Dr. John York is the Co-Chairman of the San Francisco 49ers.
As Co-Chairman of the 49ers, John provides the resources and guidance to uphold the 49ers celebrated history and oversee the team’s relationship with the Commissioner of the National Football League and other team owners.
Under the leadership of John, the 49ers community impact and the 49ers Foundation are recognized among the most impactful in all of professional sports. The 49ers were named the 2017 ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year and the 2017 Pop Warner Little Scholars Team of the Year. The 49ers and the 49ers Foundation were previously recognized as Beyond Sport’s 2015 Sport Team of the Year for Outstanding Philanthropic Sports Organization and the 2013 winner of the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Steve Patterson Award for Sports Philanthropy. The 49ers Foundation has distributed more than $46 million back into the community. The York family believes that, if a child can learn to learn, they will continue to educate themselves for the rest of their lives.
A successful entrepreneur, John spent years as Senior Vice President/Director of Racing Operations for the DeBartolo Corporation, instituting programs designed to enhance the fan experience and raise the profile of thoroughbred horse racing. John, a noted pathologist, began his business career in 1982 as Founder of DeYor Laboratories in Youngstown, Ohio. From three employees, he molded the company into a 500-person operation with facilities in three states before selling the company to Corning, Inc., in 1993.
John is also Chairman of the NFL’s Health & Safety Advisory Committee, which was established in 2011. He is also a member of both the League’s Audit and International committees, the latter of which he previously served as Chairman.