DeBartolo scores last touchdown at Candlestick Park

The stadium that became best known for the exploits of the team owned by Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. closed its doors on a touchdown scored by DeBartolo himself.

Via Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News, DeBartolo scored the game-winning touchdown at the flag football game that closed out Candlestick Park, giving former 49ers a 45-40 win over a team of All-Stars in a flag football game.

“Trust me. I was as nervous as you were,” quarterback Joe Montana told DeBartolo after the two-yard completion won the game and dropped the curtain on the legendary venue. Per Brown, DeBartolo sneaked onto the field for the decisive score.

As the modest crowd — estimated at 30,000 by Brown and at 25,000 by Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle — chanted “Ed-die!,” DeBartolo found a microphone.

“It was an honor being your owner,” he said. “But it was an even bigger honor to be your friend.”

Per Tafur, Montana threw three touchdown passes for the 49ers, and Steve Young added one. But Young also threw a pair of Matt Schaub-style pick-sixes to former NFL safety Robert Griffith, prompting boos from the crowd and cries of “We want Joe”!

Quarterbacking the All-Stars were Dan Marino, Drew Bledoe, and Dave Krieg. They used iPads on the field to help call plays. It didn’t always work too well; former 49ers safety Tony Parrish intercepted them three times, returning one for a touchdown.

The 49ers will christen their new Santa Clara stadium this season, hosting Super Bowl 50 there in early 2016.

An owner that cared and loved his players unlike the dump that is called the Minnesota Vikings. 1 out of the 2 worst franchises in all sports. (the other the Washington Redskins) both terrible owners that celebrate 4th place. only championship they strive for is off-season ones #off-seasonchampions

Dave Krieg? Did he have one of those patented “soap dish” fumbles where he goes back to pass and as his hand comes up the ball sails backwards out of his hand!

It is a lot of fun now thinking about it and laughing, but believe me, 25 or so years ago when it happened a lot of fans including me groaned each time we saw something like this happen, and asked ourselves plaintively – Oh! Why could we not have a top notch QB in Seattle, like a Montana, or a Marino, or a Young?

And lo and behold! The football gods were listening, and as the year 2011 came to pass they bestowed on the fair city of Seattle a golden armed kid named Russell Wilson, a Messiah if you will, to lead the gentle and kind people of this city to their dream land within the short span of 2 years!

And the people of Seattle rejoiced for many days, and thought back to all the struggles, to the days of Jim Zorn and David Krieg and his “soap dish” fumbles, and they laughed with great joy to know they would not have to suffer through that any more!

defscottyb says:Jul 13, 2014 3:54 PM

I’m not an 1849ers fan but I like Eddie he was a great owner who always took care of his players and still does.

Dan Rooney has to be at the top of the list of good owners. Stability is the key and since 1969, no one runs a more stable front office than the Steelers.

IN 45 YEARS…
3 head coaches (fewest in NFL).
15 AFC title games in 45 Years (most in the AFC)
8 Super Bowl appearances (most in AFC – tied with Dallas for most in NFL).
6 Super Bowl victories (most in NFL)

San Francisco fans are classy in the way they still cheer for the quarterback who took them from being an also ran and made them into a Super Bowl winner. There are fans of one team who hate boo and flip off the quarterback who put them on the map.

The Rooneys have 6 rings and they weren’t forced to give up ownership of the team. Of course, it’s not real common for an owner to be forced to give up control of a team. So he has that going for him. I’m not a Steekers fan, but I know enough about the NFL to know that the Rooneys are the best owners.

jayniner says:Jul 13, 2014 6:05 PM

A lot of history in that stadium. Many of us have spent our whole lives watching history made there.

Sad to see it go.

lurch61 says:Jul 13, 2014 6:19 PM

yate3097 says:
Jul 13, 2014 3:51 PM
So, are they officially to be referred to as the Santa Clara 49ers from this point forward?
============================================
Only if you refer to the Bills as the “Orchard Park Bills”, the jets and Giants as the “new Jersey Jets/Giants” the Cowboys as the “Irving Cowboys” and on and on. This repeated statement about Santa Clara is so stupid and getting so old, lets move on please!

Seattle fans are like new money. They spent their whole lives jealous of those living more well off with better homes and lives. Now that Seattle is part of the club, they’re still the low class people they were before.

johnqlunchbox says:Jul 14, 2014 12:46 AM

That “score” by a 60 year-old 5’3″ schlub is as contrived as anything in football could possibly get.

atodaso says:Jul 14, 2014 2:28 AM

@racoon. Rooneys are great owners but don’t sell Al Davis and Clark Hunt short, they’ve done more for the game then they will ever get credit for.

mikeytrapp says:Jul 14, 2014 2:46 AM

It’s nice to see Montana continuing to burnish his huckster image for more cash. He’ll be doing Life Alert ads in 5 years.

GreenAndBlueMakesMeSpew says:Jul 14, 2014 3:32 AM

I went to this game, it was great seeing all the players from the past joining in. The announcer made several funny comments throughout the game but overall some of these players can still play!! Also the comment about boo’s from the crowd when Steve threw an interception and the “cries for we want joe” is a crock. Kenny Mayne made some funny comments too when the ref’s and players were introduced. Overall it was a memorable experience. To see the complete list of players, you can go to legendsofcandlestick com. Farewell Candlestick!!

joe400e says:Jul 14, 2014 3:59 AM

Eddie definitely cared about his players. Look up former Niner Jeff Fuller and what Eddie D did for him after Fuller got hurt in a game against the Patriots.

What a classless organization. Seriously, booing a guy in a legends game. Go back to the sewers you guys crawled out of. Bunch of scum bags down there in Santa Clara

olcap says:Jul 14, 2014 11:31 AM

gadgetking2010 says:
Jul 13, 2014 4:05 PM
Dan Rooney has to be at the top of the list of good owners. Stability is the key and since 1969, no one runs a more stable front office than the Steelers.

IN 45 YEARS…
3 head coaches (fewest in NFL).
15 AFC title games in 45 Years (most in the AFC)
8 Super Bowl appearances (most in AFC – tied with Dallas for most in NFL).
6 Super Bowl victories (most in NFL)
———————————–

One reason he is not – he didn’t fire his head coach who cheated on prime time TV. That’s unforgivable for an owner.

I was there!!! Really special time. Awesome to see Joe / Steve / Jerry / Jeff Garcia (WTF!!) LOL Roger Craig… Marino and even Tim Brown who flashed his Traiders jersey after he scored once..

Bill Ring almost stole the show!! Wide open on those 2 yard dump offs!!

Young did ok but a few picks. Garcia played pretty good, probably since he was the youngest on the field.

One thing the media hasn’t mention was how AWESOME us FANS were… A dry spell for the niners in the 2nd half…

The WAVE started…. With mainly in between the 20-20 yards filled a few endzone and upper level seats.

The Wave was a frenzy!! with nearly all 25k+ joining in on the fun!!

This must have went around 6 or 7 or 8 times!!! again Dry spell when the “All Stars” had the ball and the 9ers were not doing much.

Very Electric to see everyone having a blast and it keep going and going in very good sync.

Emotional night for sure, lots of great memories at the stick, some heart breaking losses. But that why we are fans. Win some and lose some and start the next year at 0-0 with a shot of going all the way!

Joe actually threw a great 30+ yard bomb to Roger Craig who made a nice catch along the sideline. This was a few plays after Craig dropped a 10 yard pass.

The game was what you would expect from 50+ year old Legends!! Just something fun and special to watch.

I actually won 20 bucks from my buddy so that made the game more interesting!

I think the promotion or lack of stunk. They could have got 50-70K in if they wanted and promoted it right. Maybe the upper deck $10 dollar tickets. The tickets were $30-40-50 bucks plus fees.

We still had 22 people in our party / tailgate and brought my kids (6 & 19mo) which they wont be able to go to a “SAN FRANCISCO” 49ers game in Santa Clara for awhile!! With tickets at $350+ for this year at Field of Jeans it will be awhile before I can bring them.

And Yes they Are and WILL Be the SAN FRANCISCO 49ers!!! DALLAS Cowgurls do not play in Dallas!! and the Jets Giants DeadSkins, Bills…. And the Oakland Raiders will be in Portland or LA soon!!