The file
San Francisco 49ers logo
Logo: San Francisco 49ers,Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. A trademark of its owner.
company

San Francisco 49ers

NFL club based in Santa Clara, California, owned by the DeBartolo York family since 2000

Entries
35
On the record
13
Stories
1
Latest entry
Nov 9, 2026

The record

Compiled by the MrScandal desk from the documents below ยท Desk editor Gustavs ฤ’rkลกฤทis-Kreicbergs ยท Nov 12, 2026

The 49ers scandal on record in 2026 is owner Jed York's. Arrested in an undercover prostitution sting in East Palestine, Ohio on August 23, 2026, he pleaded no contest the next day to two misdemeanors, disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools, and paid $1,150 in fines. On October 2 the NFL suspended him for six games and fined him $500,000 under its personal conduct policy. He is the first 49ers owner disciplined by the league since his uncle, Eddie DeBartolo Jr., was suspended for a year and fined $1 million in 1999.

DeBartolo, who owned the team through its five Super Bowl titles, pleaded guilty in 1998 to failing to report an extortion attempt by former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards over a casino license. Control passed to his sister, Denise DeBartolo York, whose family still runs the club; President Trump pardoned him in 2020. The club itself was penalised by the league in 2008, when it lost a fifth-round pick for tampering with Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs.

Off the field, the record includes the release of Ray McDonald, Aldon Smith and Reuben Foster after arrests between 2014 and 2018, years of litigation with the city of Santa Clara over the city-owned Levi's Stadium, settled in 2022 and 2024, and a 2022 civil grand jury report on the team's ties to five council members. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, signed to a four-year, $120 million extension in 2024, had more than $26 million in 2026 guarantees voided in 2025 and was reinstated by the NFL on November 9, 2026 with his release expected.

Questions people ask

Why was 49ers owner Jed York suspended?

The NFL suspended York for six games and fined him $500,000 on October 2, 2026 for violating its personal conduct policy, after his August arrest in an Ohio prostitution sting. He was credited with three games served because he had not attended games or league meetings that season, and was eligible to return on October 20. York said he accepted the decision in full and called his conduct an inexcusable mistake. source

What was Jed York charged with in Ohio?

York was first charged with misdemeanor engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools after he allegedly answered an undercover advertisement. As part of a plea agreement on August 24, 2026 the prostitution count was amended to disorderly conduct, and he pleaded no contest to both misdemeanors. He paid $1,150 in fines and was sentenced to one day in jail per charge, with one day credited as served, Columbiana County court records show. source

Why was Eddie DeBartolo Jr. suspended by the NFL?

DeBartolo pleaded guilty to failing to report a felony committed by former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards in connection with his bid for a riverboat gambling license. The NFL suspended him for a year and fined him $1 million in 1999. He had stepped away from the team in December 1997, handing control to his sister Denise DeBartolo York, and sold his stake to her in 2000. source

Have the 49ers been punished for tampering?

Yes. On March 23, 2008 Commissioner Roger Goodell ruled that the 49ers broke the NFL's anti-tampering policy by contacting the agent of Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs during the 2007 season. The club forfeited its 2008 fifth-round pick and swapped third-round picks with Chicago, dropping from 7th to 12th in the round. source

What happened with Brandon Aiyuk's contract?

The club previously voided about $27 million of Aiyuk's 2026 guarantees and placed him on the reserve/left squad list in December 2025 after an unexcused departure. The NFL reinstated him on November 9, 2026 and gave the 49ers a two-week roster exemption to November 23. The team reportedly wants back a $13 million roster bonus, saying he skipped facility and rehab appointments after his 2024 knee injury. source

What were the Levi's Stadium lawsuits about?

The 49ers and the city of Santa Clara, which owns Levi's Stadium, had been in dispute since the stadium opened over revenues, curfews and accounting practices. Under the settlement reached in August 2022, the team agreed to pay more than $1.6 million to the city's general fund and kept the right to run events at the stadium, including on non-game days. source

Why did the 49ers release Reuben Foster?

The 49ers released Foster in November 2018 after Tampa police arrested him at the team hotel on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge, the night before a game against the Buccaneers. Earlier that year felony domestic violence charges had been dropped for lack of evidence after the complainant recanted, and he had pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor weapons charge. Coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch had said further incidents would likely lead to his release. source

What did the Santa Clara grand jury report say about the 49ers?

The Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury's 61-page report, released in October 2022, examined the team's political influence and its relationship with five city council members. The 49ers attacked the report before it was published; San Jose Spotlight reported the team's response under the headline "Hatchet job". source

Roles and honours on the record

  • 1946-1949 Member club, All-America Football Conference, founded by Tony Morabito source
  • 1950-present Member club, National Football League source
  • 1977 Bought by Edward DeBartolo Jr., who served as chief executive source
  • 2000 Owned by Denise DeBartolo York, who bought her brother's stake source
  • as of 2026 Owner Jed York, Denise DeBartolo York's son source

Every entry, newest first

Last entry Nov 5, 2026
  1. Reported

    GM John Lynch told KNBR the team is working with the NFL Management Council on a "unique" situation, per Fox Sports. NFL reportedly tells Brandon Aiyuk he owes 49ers $13M back

Stories in this file

Brandon Aiyuk: $13M owed backSports ยท 6d ago

๐Ÿˆ NFL reportedly tells Brandon Aiyuk he owes 49ers $13M back

A source tells Fox the NFL sent a letter Thursday. Pelissero says it could end in a deal or arbitration. Nothing is public. โณ

The record, entry by entry

Club background

  1. 1944-06-06 Official Tony Morabito agreed to form the San Francisco franchise at the first meeting of the All-America Football Conference. San Francisco 49ers, team history: The Founder
  2. 1946 Official The 49ers played their first season in the AAFC, after about $250,000 had been spent organizing the team before its first game. San Francisco 49ers, team history: The Founder
  3. 1950 Official The 49ers joined the NFL after the AAFC merged into the league. San Francisco 49ers, team history: The Founder
  4. 1977 Official Edward DeBartolo Jr. bought the 49ers and served as the team's chief executive. Pro Football Hall of Fame, enshrinee profile
  5. 1981 Official From 1981 to 1998 the team averaged about 13 wins a season (excluding the strike-shortened 1982 season) and won 13 division titles, 16 playoff berths, 10 NFC Championship Game trips and five Super Bowls under DeBartolo. Pro Football Hall of Fame, enshrinee profile

Owners disciplined

  1. 1997-12 Reported DeBartolo stepped away from the 49ers and turned control of the team over to his sister, Denise DeBartolo York. The San Francisco Standard
  2. 1998 Admitted DeBartolo pleaded guilty to failing to report an extortion scheme in which former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards demanded $400,000 from him over a casino license, and paid a $1 million fine. Ownership then passed to his sister's family. UPI report
  3. 1999 Ruled The NFL suspended DeBartolo for a year and ordered him to pay a $1 million fine, the last league discipline of a 49ers owner until 2026. The San Francisco Standard
  4. 2000 Official DeBartolo sold his stake in the team to Denise DeBartolo York. The San Francisco Standard
  5. 2016 Official DeBartolo was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a contributor in the Class of 2016. Pro Football Hall of Fame, enshrinee profile
  6. 2020-02-18 Official President Donald Trump pardoned DeBartolo for his 1998 plea; he had received no jail time, and the NFL had required him to give up control of the 49ers to Denise DeBartolo York, ProFootballTalk reported. NBC Sports ProFootballTalk report
  7. 2026-08-23 Filed Owner Jed York was arrested in East Palestine, Ohio in an undercover sting with the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force and charged with misdemeanor engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools. ESPN report (ABC7), citing Columbiana County court records
  8. 2026-08-24 Ruled Under a plea agreement the prostitution count was amended to disorderly conduct and York pleaded no contest to both misdemeanors, paying $1,150 in fines and receiving one day in jail per charge with one day credited. The San Francisco Standard later described the plea as guilty. The 49ers said the legal matter had been resolved. ESPN report (ABC7), citing Columbiana County court records
  9. 2026-10-02 Ruled The NFL suspended York for six games and fined him $500,000 for violating the personal conduct policy, crediting him with three games served; he was eligible to return on October 20. York said he accepted the decision in full and was deeply sorry. Associated Press report (News4JAX)

League discipline of the club

  1. 2008-03-23 Ruled Commissioner Roger Goodell ruled that the 49ers violated the NFL Anti-Tampering Policy by contacting the agent of Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs during the 2007 season. The club forfeited its 2008 fifth-round pick and swapped third-round picks with Chicago, falling from 7th to 12th in the round. NFL statement, published by the 49ers

Players arrested or disciplined

  1. 2014-08 Ruled The NFL suspended linebacker Aldon Smith for the first nine games of the 2014 season for violating its personal conduct and substance abuse policies, in connection with a 2013 drunken-driving arrest. In July 2014 he had been sentenced to 11 days of work release for that offence. ESPN report (ABC7)
  2. 2014-11-10 Official Santa Clara County prosecutors declined to charge defensive tackle Ray McDonald over his August 31 arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence, citing a lack of evidence. San Jose Inside report
  3. 2014-12-17 Official General manager Trent Baalke announced McDonald's release, citing a pattern of behaviour, the same day San Jose police said he was being investigated over a possible sexual assault. Sports Illustrated report
  4. 2015-08-07 Official The 49ers released Aldon Smith the day after his arrest on hit-and-run, driving under the influence and vandalism charges, his third arrest on suspicion of drunken driving since entering the league. ESPN report (ABC7)
  5. 2017-04-17 Ruled Felony sexual assault charges brought against McDonald over the December 2014 allegation were dismissed in Santa Clara County Superior Court after the complainant declined to testify. ABC7 News report
  6. 2018-05-23 Ruled Felony domestic violence charges against linebacker Reuben Foster, from a February incident at his home in Los Gatos, were dropped for lack of evidence after the complainant recanted at the preliminary hearing. He pleaded no contest to a related misdemeanor weapons charge and was sentenced to two years' probation, 232 hours of community service and $235 in fines. ESPN report (ABC7)
  7. 2018-07-03 Ruled The NFL fined Foster and suspended him without pay for the first two games of the 2018 season for violating its Conduct and Substances of Abuse policies. NFL statement, published by the 49ers
  8. 2018-11-25 Official The 49ers released Foster after Tampa police arrested him at the team hotel on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge, hours before a game against the Buccaneers. ESPN report (ABC7)
  9. 2024-11-09 Ruled The NFL fined defensive end Nick Bosa $11,255 under its uniform and equipment rules for wearing a hat with a personal message, a pro-Donald Trump cap, in a postgame television interview on October 27, the AP reported from a person familiar with the matter. Associated Press report (KSAT)

Levi's Stadium and Santa Clara

  1. 2022-08-31 Official The city of Santa Clara agreed in a closed-door meeting to settle its lawsuits with the 49ers over the management of the publicly owned Levi's Stadium. The team agreed to pay more than $1.6 million to the city's general fund and keeps running stadium events, including on non-game days. KTVU report
  2. 2022-10 Reported A 61-page Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury report examined the team's political influence and relationship with five council members it called the "49 Five". The 49ers criticised the report before its release. San Jose Spotlight report
  3. 2024-05-23 Official The Santa Clara Stadium Authority and the 49ers settled their remaining disputes over public safety costs, Legacy seat-holder buffet costs and other stadium expenses. The amount the authority owes the team was cut by $7.5 million to $14.8 million, and $7.1 million in performance rent goes to the city, a joint statement said. Silicon Valley Voice report
  4. 2024-12-05 Ruled A Santa Clara County jury convicted council member Anthony Becker of perjury for lying about leaking the confidential grand jury report to a 49ers executive before its release. Front Office Sports report
  5. 2025-04-04 Ruled Becker was sentenced to probation and work duty for felony perjury and misdemeanor violation of duty, with no prison time. Silicon Valley Voice report

Brandon Aiyuk contract dispute

  1. 2024 Official Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million extension after a lengthy contract hold-in that kept him out of training camp. Associated Press report (News4JAX)
  2. 2025-11-21 Reported The 49ers had voided more than $26 million of Aiyuk's 2026 guarantees earlier in the year after he failed to take part in meetings and other team activities, a person familiar with the move told the AP. Associated Press report (News4JAX)
  3. 2025-12-13 Official The 49ers placed Aiyuk on the reserve/left team list, which ruled him out for the rest of the 2025 season. ESPN report (ABC7)
  4. 2026-01 Official General manager John Lynch said it was safe to say Aiyuk had played his last snap for the club, calling it a situation that just went awry. ESPN report (ABC7)
  5. 2026-11-09 Reported The NFL reinstated Aiyuk from the reserve/left squad list and gave the 49ers a two-week roster exemption to November 23 to release, trade or activate him. The club reportedly wants back a $13 million roster bonus, saying he skipped facility and rehab appointments after his 2024 knee injury. Yahoo Sports report

Documents

Connected files

  • Brandon Aiyuk ยท NFL wide receiver, first-round pick in 2020, 49ers player since then ยท 1 shared story
  • National Football League ยท American professional football league ยท 1 shared story
  • Donald Trump ยท President of the United States (2017โ€“2021; since 2025) ยท named in the record