49ers owner Jed York absent from Dolphins game, NFL punishment coming ‘soon’
SANTA CLARA — The biggest absence at the San Francisco 49ers’ home opener had nothing to do with the injury report.
Principal owner Jed York is reportedly expected to skip the festivities as the NFL continues its investigation into his prostitution arrest last month near his hometown in Ohio.
ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported York’s anticipated absence Sunday morning, a little more than two hours before the Niners were set to host the Miami Dolphins in their first game this season at Levi’s Stadium, the $1.3 billion venue York led the charge to build.
York also did not attend the 49ers’ season-opener against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia. But according to Schefter, he did make the almost 8,000-mile trek across the Pacific Ocean.
He also ducked out on the NFL owners’ meetings earlier this month, instead sending CEO Al Guido.
York is staying away from the Niners to avoid being a distraction while the NFL completes its investigation under its personal conduct policy, one source told Schefter, who also cited another source that said a decision on any potential discipline would come “soon.”
York was arrested on Aug. 23 in an East Palestine, Ohio, trailer park on suspicion of engaging in prostitution. Authorities claimed he responded to an online ad and agreed to pay $160 for sex. York pled no contest to two lesser charges, spent two nights in jail and paid $1,150 in fines.
The 49ers put out an unsigned statement the morning after York’s arrest stating that “as this is a legal matter, which has been resolved, we will not be providing any further comment at this time.” York has yet to address the situation or make a public appearance since the arrest.
His continued distance from the organization continues a trend that predates York’s arrest. It would have been unheard of for a typically omnipresent owner to miss his team on the international stage or its home opener in the building that came out of his family’s pocketbook.
But it was already strange that he was not on hand for training camp prior to his arrest. York filed for divorce from wife in May, a day after Mother’s Day, and quietly moved into his family’s $500,000 home in Youngstown, about 20 miles away from East Palestine.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was asked about the matter on Netflix’s pregame show before their season kickoff in Australia and acknowledged that was being “looked at.”
“When we get it completed,” he said, “we’ll obviously make an announcement at that point in time.”
According to the latest reports, it sounds like that time could be sooner rather than later. Until then, and possibly after, the 49ers’ embattled owner remains M.I.A.
