49ers Fined $500,000, Avoid Other Penalty

The San Francisco 49ers were fined $500,000 for violating the NFL’s corporate ownership policy but were spared even harsher penalties that could have included the loss of draft choices.

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue ruled that the violations occurred when 49er owner Edward DeBartolo Jr. made the four-time Super Bowl champions a subsidiary of the DeBartolo Corp. in December of 1986 without getting league permission.

It also made the 49ers part of the same corporation that owns the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins, a violation of the rule against an NFL team having an interest in another professional sport.