Club Benefits
A love letter to Bill Walsh-era Gold Rush dynasty, to Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott and Steve Young, four-part prestige docuseries "Rise of the 49ers" charts the club's spectacular ascent through the 80s and 90s. Before The Catch they were perennial also-rans. They'd go on to become not just an all-time great sporting dynasty, but a cultural touchstone that galvanized San Francisco — and captured hearts and minds across the globe.
Here's how to watch "Rise of the 49ers" from anywhere with a VPN.
“Rise of the 49ers" premieres on Sunday, February 1 in the U.S. and Canada.
• U.S. — AMC Plus / AMC via Sling TV
• CAN — AMC Plus
• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk-free
People love a winner, but the 49ers weren't like the widely reviled Cowboys, Patriots or Chiefs. Despite all of their successes, the Niners still managed to retain their charm. Their style was a huge part of that. It was Walsh who masterminded the bold, creative West Coast offense, every ounce as entertaining as it was effective, yet archive footage reveals a coach who was wracked with self-doubt.
Young's emergence in 1987 must have felt like the last thing he'd needed. Montana was the man, but all of a sudden, while he was still in his prime, it became abundantly clear that his backup was a Super Bowl winner and Hall of Famer in-waiting too. The quarterback controversy would come close to tearing the team apart.
San Fran fans had hoped to see the 49ers clinch that long-awaited sixth title on home turf at the 2026 Super Bowl, but this is as good as consolation prizes get. If Tom Brady seems a strange choice as the docuseries' narrator and effective anchor, it's worth noting that, despite being passed up for Giovanni Carmazzi in the 2000 NFL Draft, he remains a lifelong 49ers fanatic, and it'll be fascinating to see his exchanges with his childhood heroes.
Read on to see how you can watch "Rise of the 49ers" from anywhere.
How to watch 'Rise of the 49ers’ in the U.S.
In the U.S., "Rise of the 49ers" premieres with a double-header on AMC on Sunday, February 1 from 9 p.m. ET/PT. The remaining two episodes arrive at the same time on Monday, February 2.
You can also stream the docuseries on AMC Plus, which starts at $6.99/month after a 7-day FREE trial.
Alternatively, you can access AMC with one of the best live TV streaming services. Sling TV is one of the most cost-efficient options.
Outside of the U.S. when it airs? Use a VPN to get around the geo-restrictions that will prevent you from streaming "Rise of the 49ers".
How to watch ‘Rise of the 49ers’ from anywhere
If "Rise of the 49ers" isn't streaming where you are, that doesn't mean you have to miss out. With the right VPN (virtual private network), you can watch the docuseries from virtually anywhere.
We've tested many options, and the best VPN you can get right now is NordVPN. It offers impressive connection speeds and compatibility with most devices. You can try it risk-free for 30 days if you take advantage of NordVPN's no-quibble money-back guarantee.
Using a VPN is incredibly simple.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.
2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're away from the U.S. but want to watch the docuseries as usual, you'd select a United States server from the list.
3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head over to your streaming platform of choice and watch "Rise of the 49ers".
How to watch ‘Rise of the 49ers' in Canada
In Canada, "Rise of the 49ers" premieres with a double-header at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Sunday, February 1 on AMC. The next two episodes land 24 hours later.
An AMC plus subscription costs CA$7.99/month after a 7-day FREE trial.
Outside Canada when it's on? Use a VPN to get around the geo-restrictions that will prevent AMC Plus from working.
Can I watch ‘Rise of the 49ers’ in the U.K, Australia or elsewhere?
There's no word yet on when or if "Rise of the 49ers" will air beyond North America.
If you're an American or Canadian currently in the U.K. or Australia for work or on vacation, you can still catch the docuseries by using a VPN, such as NordVPN.
'Rise of the 49ers' — Need to Know
'Rise of the 49ers' trailer
'Rise of the 49ers’ episode guide & schedule
"Rise of the 49ers" comprises four episodes:
- Episode 1 "We Built This City" — Sunday, February 1
- Episode 2 "Weird, and Football” — Sunday, February 1
- Episode 3 "The Gold Standard” — Monday, February 2
- Episode 4 "Finesse-Ass 49ers” — Monday, February 2
‘Rise of the 49ers’ cast
- Joe Montana
- Jerry Rice
- Steve Young
- Ronnie Lott
- Ray Ratto
- Michael Silver
- Randy Cross
- Craig Walsh
- Bill Walsh
- Liz Walsh
- Bob Trumpy
- Dwight Clark
- John Elway
- John Taylor
- Carl Banks
- Boomer Esiason
- Michael Irvin
- Huey Lewis
- Tom Rathman
- Sean McVay
- Tom Brady
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We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
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