Jed York

John Edward "Jed" York (born March 9, 1980) is an American businessman who is the principal owner and chief executive officer of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League, Co-owner of Leeds United F.C of the Premier League and Rangers F.C of the Scottish Premiership. York is the son of 49ers co-chairs Denise DeBartolo York and John York, nephew of former 49ers owner Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. and a board member at Leeds United. He has been the 49ers CEO since 2008, and acquired enough of his mother's shares to become the team's principal owner in 2024.

Early life and education

Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, York attended St. Charles Elementary School and Cardinal Mooney High School. While in high school he was a baseball team captain and the senior class president. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor's degree in Finance and History.

Career

York began work as a financial analyst for Guggenheim Partners at their New York City offices, but left after approximately one year. After he quit his first job, York's parents brought him into their family owned team, the San Francisco 49ers, as director of strategic planning and later promoted him to vice president of strategic planning.

In December 2008, Jed became CEO of the 49ers, with his parents transitioning to the posts of co-chairmen. In making the announcement, his father, John, said that Jed's previous posts served as an opportunity for him to learn how to run a major league franchise. Jed became the operating head of the 49ers, though his parents remained principal owners, and are responsible for providing resources and representing the 49ers at league meetings.

In October 2010, with the 49ers off to an 0–5 start, York wrote to ESPN's Adam Schefter that the 49ers would win their division and make the playoffs. This proclamation led ESPN columnist David Fleming to refer to York as "kooky" and "goofy" and to note that York "backs up such bold declarations with a long list of qualifications starting with (1) his lifelong love of the 49ers, (2) his prestigious high school baseball career and (3) the fact that his godfather is Eddie DeBartolo." However, the 49ers did come within one game of backing up York's assertion. In 2011, the Niners finished the season 13–3 with the 2nd seed in the National Football Conference. In the divisional round, the 49ers defeated the New Orleans Saints. The 49ers then hosted the NFC Championship game against the New York Giants, eventually losing, 20–17. The success of the 2011 San Francisco 49ers was with much of the same team from 2010, but largely accomplished with the key addition of first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh.

In 2012, York was replaced by Gideon Yu as team president, although he retained the title of CEO.

After a 19–3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in November 2014, York tweeted “Thank you 49ers faithful for coming out strong tonight. This performance wasn't acceptable. I apologize for that.” This public statement sparked a media frenzy about York's intent behind the Tweet and whether he was specifically referring to Coach Harbaugh's future.

The decision to fire Harbaugh prompted an outcry from the media and the 49ers fan base. In a press conference addressing the issue, York was quoted as saying, “It's up to us to make sure we compete for and win Super Bowls. That's our only goal. We don't raise division championship banners, we don't raise NFC Championship banners. We raise Super Bowl banners. And whenever we don't deliver that, I hope that you will hold me directly responsible and accountable for it. And we look forward to getting this thing back on track.” Commenting on York's ability to manage the critical relationship between the general manager and the head coach, Michael Rosenberg wrote in ''Sports Illustrated'', "he failed completely." Rosenberg also described York's impact on the broader 49ers organization, noting that "York has created a culture that encourages selfishness, weakness and back-stabbing." Throughout the season, there were numerous leaks to the media from within the 49ers organization criticizing Harbaugh. ''San Jose Mercury News'' columnist Tim Kawakami noted "York and eneral Manager, TrentBaalke were the primary sources for the off-the-record disclosures that undercut Harbaugh's tenure."

Trent Baalke replaced Harbaugh with Jim Tomsula, but York supported the change comparing it to the Golden State Warriors firing Mark Jackson and replacing him with Steve Kerr. Kawakami criticized Jed's comparison in an article titled "49ers' Jed York clueless in comparing Tomsula to Warriors' Kerr." Tomsula lasted one season, leading the 49ers to a 5–11 record before being fired on Jan. 3, 2016. However, according to Adam Gase, it was Baalke and not York who decided to make Tomsula head coach instead of Gase.

In January 2017, York hired John Lynch as general manager and the next month hired Kyle Shanahan as the head coach of the 49ers. In the first eight years after the hires, the 49ers achieved significant success, reaching four NFC Championship games and playing in two Super Bowls.

In March 2024, York announced that he had acquired enough of his mother's equity stake in the 49ers to become the fifth principal owner in franchise history. His uncle bought the team in 1977 from the family of founding owner Tony Morabito, and handed control to his parents in 2000. York described the decision as a move to prevent the 49ers from being embroiled in the same family conflicts that have roiled other teams owned by a single family. Between them, the DeBartolo-York family owns a commanding 97 percent of the team.

Soccer investment

York ventured into soccer, investing into Sacramento Republic FC in January 2015 who play in United Soccer League, with future plans to venture into the MLS as a franchise and build a new stadium.

Leeds United F.C.

On 24 May 2018, English football club Leeds United announced that 49ers Enterprises had bought shares in the club to become a minority investor. 49ers Enterprises is the business arm of the San Francisco 49ers. In July 2023, it was announced that 49ers Enterprises had purchased the remaining 56 per cent of shares from Andrea Radrizzani.

Rangers F.C.

On 30 May 2025, it was announced that 49ers Enterprises had purchased a majority stake in Scottish football club Rangers.

Affiliations

As of 2023, York is serving as chairman of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group's board of directors.

Personal life

York and his wife Danielle have two sons. The family resides in Los Altos Hills, California. York is the son of Denise DeBartolo York and John York, and has two sisters.

York's brother, Tony, died on December 8th, 2018, at age 35.

References

External links

Executive Profile at San Francisco Business Times

{{DEFAULTSORT:York, Jed
Living people
NFL team presidents
San Francisco 49ers executives
San Francisco 49ers owners
DeBartolo family
1980 births
University of Notre Dame alumni