"Eddie DeBartolo Jr. may have five Super Bowl rings, but he is still looking for one Hall of Fame nod.

The former 49ers owner last month ventured as close as he has been to the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he was named one of 15 modern-day finalists. On Saturday, however, DeBartolo didn't make the first cut as 44 NFL writers ultimately pared the list to six names.

Defensive end-linebacker Charles Haley, who won five Super Bowls with the 49ers and Cowboys, made the cut from 15 to 10 players but will not be part of the 2012 class, either. That class contains one former 49er, defensive end Chris Doleman, who played in San Francisco from 1996 to 1998 but spent most of his career with the Vikings.

Former Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown also was a finalist but was not voted in this year.

DeBartolo, who was in Tampa, Fla., on Saturday, said through a spokeswoman he was "truly humbled to have made it to the top 15 and that he's proud of his and his teams' accomplishments over the years.""