Former NFL star Jerry Rice on Tuesday praised President Donald Trump for his pardon of ex-49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr., CNN reports.
Rice, who played wide receiver for the 49ers under DeBartolo, spoke Tuesday at the White House, where he and others had lobbied Trump for the pardon, according to the network.
"I think with Eddie and what he has accomplished, what he has done on the football field, off the football field a lot of charity work, so we talked about that," Rice said, CNN reported.
"We talked about just being great. You know, trying to be the greatest of all time. And you know, I take my hat off for Donald Trump and what he did."
DeBartolo turned ownership of the team over to his sister, Denise York, following his 1998 conviction for failing to report a crime, KPIX reported.
The case centered on a bribery scandal involving former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards over a casino license, NBC News reported. DeBartolo paid a $1 million fine and faced a one-year NFL suspension, but did not go to prison.
The 49ers won five Super Bowls under the ownership of DeBartolo, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016, KPIX reported.
"He's been an incredible friend," said former 49ers safety Ronnie Lott, according to the station. "An incredible owner and we'll always be indebted to him."
Trump granted DeBartolo a full pardon, NBC News reported.
