Rise of the 49ers poster

Series profile

Rise of the 49ers

They wrote the playbook on greatness.

9.0/ 102026Episode runtime

Documentary

Using rare and never-before-seen footage, as well as one-on-one interviews, discover how the San Francisco 49ers rose from an also-ran into pro football's most glamorous franchise during the '80s and early '90s.

Visual gallery

Behind the frames

Rise of the 49ers still 1

Rise of the 49ers still 2

The cast

Faces behind the story

Joe Montana

Joe Montana

Self

Jerry Rice

Jerry Rice

Self

Ronnie Lott

Ronnie Lott

Self

Steve Young

Steve Young

Self

Tom Brady

Tom Brady

Narrator (voice)

Bill Walsh

Bill Walsh

Self