Eddie DeBartolo Jr. Chosen as Finalist for 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class

One of the architects behind the San Francisco 49ers' dominance in the 1980s and early '90s may finally get his place among the NFL's legends in Canton, Ohio. The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced on Twitter that Eddie DeBartolo Jr. is a finalist for the 2016 Hall of Fame class.

"I'm truly humbled," DeBartolo said, per the Hall of Fame. "My football life is going through my head right now."

Of course, this is only the first hurdle for the former 49ers owner. As a contributor nominee, he must receive 80 percent of the vote in order to be enshrined. CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco likes his chances:

Although San Francisco was wildly successful under DeBartolo's ownership—five Super Bowl wins between 1981 and 1994—his time with the franchise ended in ignominy after he pleaded guilty to a felony in 1998, admitting he paid then-Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards $400,000 in order to obtain a casino license. DeBartolo subsequently relinquished control of the 49ers to his sister, Denise DeBartolo York.

The longer he has been away from the game, the louder the calls have been for DeBartolo to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. He was a semifinalist in 2014 and narrowly missed out again in the 2015 class.

During his own enshrinement speech this summer, former 49ers star Charles Haley made an impassioned plea on behalf of his former owner.

"When you think about Hall of Famers, you think about winning," Haley said, per Tyler Emerick of 49ers.com. "So if that's the standard, why is he not here? I pray that 'Mr. D' gets into the Hall of Fame sooner than later."

DeBartolo will have to wait until the day before Super Bowl 50 to learn whether or not he'll be a member of the 2016 Hall of Fame class.