Inman: 10 takeaways from ‘Rise of the 49ers’ screening with legends ...Middle East

SAN FRANCISCO – Joe Montana snuck up behind Eddie DeBartolo on the red carpet to make a crazy face while photo-bombing him.

Then sauntered in Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Keena Turner and other 49ers legends, all looking ready to conquer another Super Bowl, albeit a few decades past their prime and 12 days before the Lombardi Trophy is awarded at Levi’s Stadium to either the Seattle Seahawks or the New England Patriots.

The 49ers’ crown jewels resurfaced Tuesday night at a Mission District theater for the screening of a masterful docuseries, “The Rise of the 49ers”, which airs Sunday and Monday nights on AMC’s television network.

“It entails everything that happened in those two decades that was so special, not only to me and the players but also for the city,” DeBartolo said.

The four compelling episodes, complete with behind-the-scenes footage and on-camera interviews from the past and present, open up a time capsule to the greatest era of 49ers football, when they won five Super Bowls between the 1981 and 1994 seasons.

Those teams certainly didn’t lack star power, and, Tuesday night, those stars came out smiling, laughing, reminiscing and even marveling at some aspects of the dynasty previously unbeknownst to them.

Once the 45-minute screening of the first episode was complete, a crescendo of applause came from the couple hundred viewers — including fans in 49ers jerseys — inside the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.

#49ers legends reunite for the #riseofthe49ers docuseries that will air on @amc_tv Sunday and Monday nights

So great to see:Eddie DeBartoloJoe MontanaSteve YoungJerry RiceRonnie LottKeena TurnerCarmen PolicyJed YorkMichael ZagarisTom Brady Sr t.co/Iw5DJB6Spf

— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 28, 2026

Rice stood up from his fourth-row seat and quietly mused, “That was so cool,” adding that he had learned something deeply true about Bill Walsh’s coaching background. (Details can’t be shared publicly until after the docuseries airs, in two parts on Sunday and Monday nights.)

To Rice’s right and a few seats over, Young and Montana stood together and chummed it up like best buds, nearly 40 years after an “awkward” coexistence.

Here are just some of the other sights and sounds on what was a homecoming night for a parade of 49ers legends:

1. JOE AND STEVE

Decades removed from the granddaddy of all quarterback controversies, Montana and Young happily greeted each other with hugs on the red carpet, posed for pictures with Rice and accurately portrayed themselves as accomplished Hall of Famers who’ve gone on to flourish in their personal and post-career lives.

“I’ve never wavered from the truth. Joe and I got along,” Young said. “We laughed a lot. I supported him. We never had an argument, we never had a cross word.

“And it was awkward from the very first time we met. As Bill (Walsh) said later in his life, ‘Yeah, but I got the best out of both of you.’ We both probably wanted to punch him.”

Montana later reminisced about Walsh’s witty sense of humor, even sharing how when he and Lott visited Walsh just before the coach’s death in 2007, Walsh stopped him: “He says, ‘Hey, hey, hey, wait a minute.’ So I said, ‘Do you need something? Can I get you something?’ He said, ‘No, but do you owe me any money?’”

2. BRADY’S INPUT

Tom Brady is the docuseries’ executive producer, and he makes unforced cameos that draw on his genuine 49ers fandom as a San Mateo youth. He wasn’t at Tuesday’s premiere but Tom Brady Sr. came without having seen any sneak previews. Spoiler alert: The elder Brady’s name is the first mentioned in Episode 1.

Although Montana didn’t interact with Brady during the production, Rice sure did, from a sit-down interview to a game of catch. “I never knew he was a big fan like that, to hear him talk about the 49ers when he was a little kid,” Rice said. “Then also sitting down with him and having that discussion, then to have him actually throw me footballs.

“I thought this guy was going to have to ice his arms, with the velocity that he was throwing the ball. The thing was on me so fast,” Rice added. “I was like, ‘Wow, now I see why Tom Brady was so successful, because he had the rocket arm and all that.’ It’s great for him to be on this as a producer and to bring this to light.”

3. ROGER CRAIG FAN CLUB

The 49ers’ legends dined Monday night at a Chase Center steakhouse and paid tribute to Roger Craig, who shared in the dinner but was not at Tuesday’s screening. Craig is a Seniors finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and considering Bill Belichick did not gain first-ballot entry, perhaps that bodes well for next Thursday’s HOF Class reveal at NFL Honors.

“Last night you would have thought Roger was in the Hall of Fame,” former 49ers executive Carmen Policy said. “The way everybody treated him, the way all of us surrounded him. It was our way of saying, ‘As far as we’re concerned, you’re in it.’ Now it’s only a matter for it to be verified formally.”

4. CAMELOT TO CIOPPINO

Policy, who was with the 49ers from 1981-97, credited DeBartolo’s passion, Walsh’s foresight and a “lucky” blend of players for changing the 49ers’ fortunes. “They came together. It was a perfect San Francisco mix,” Policy said. “It was a cioppino with great ingredients, wonderful spice, blended perfectly and served on beautiful dishes. It doesn’t get better than that.”

Current 49ers owner Jed York, who was in attendance Tuesday, seems determined to forge ahead with his main chef, coach Kyle Shanahan, who’s entering his 10th season and is believed to be under contract for three more seasons.

5. WHY NOW?

Why is the Team of the ’80s coming back into the spotlight four decades later? “You go to Super Bowls and hear stories from guys like Jerry and Steve who’ll be there. Those stories get told over and over,” Montana said. “Eventually someone wanted to put it all together. It was great and fun to do. It was kind of crazy.”

Complementing the docuseries are interviews that took place with key contributors and witnesses to the 49ers’ dynasty, who sat for hours during their taping in the Presidio while surrounded by nostalgic art from longtime 49ers photographer Michael Zagaris.

6. HOME SUPER BOWL

This season’s edition of the 49ers came two wins shy of playing at home for the Lombardi Trophy, something the 1984 team essentially pulled off, albeit at Stanford Stadium down the road from Candlestick Park.

“It was an incredible moment for a lot of reasons,” Lott said. “The idea of actually sleeping in your own bed, which people don’t even really put together. Having that at our house, special. … It was even more sentimental than anything I’ve ever done in my life. It was really hard to get there.”

Also noting how hard it is, Montana emphasized how much more challenging it is when starters go down, as the 49ers experienced this season. “You can never be happy when you lose, but when you look back on it, I was pretty surprised they were able to have that kind of success,” Montana said.

7. MONTANA ON QBs

Montana, who went 4-0 in Super Bowls with 11 touchdown passes and no interceptions, spoke highly of current 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and his 2023 backup, Sam Darnold, who has taken the Seahawks to Super Bowl LX.

On Purdy, Montana said: “He’s doing what he’s supposed to do. He doesn’t have to take big changes. He’s missing probably a big-play guy on the outside. But for the most part, he’s playing smart, not trying to turn the ball over, not trying to force things down the field, take what they give you.”

On Darnold: “The last two teams he’s played for, he’s won 28 games. Now they’re in the Super Bowl. For all he’s been through, I’d like to see him win. You’ve got a good defensive coach on the other side, so I’m sure it will be an interesting game to watch.”

8. NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

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Among those greeting and paying homage to the 49ers legends was new Giants manager Tony Vitello. He posed for pictures with Montana at an after-show party near the theater and was very receptive to any and all who introduced themselves.

9. STRANGEST QUESTION

Just as Montana took the red carpet, a reporter asked him about a proposed housing project that would replace Safeway in the Marina district, where he has resided in retirement. Montana had no comment.

10. BEST ANSWER

How frustrated would DeBartolo be if he were still the owner, presiding over 31 years without a championship like their current drought? “I wouldn’t,” DeBartolo replied without blinking and shaking his head side to side. Translation: The 49ers wouldn’t be in the drought they’re in now, although the NFL’s salary cap institution and parity might have something to say, too.

Then again, DeBartolo knows a few friends who’d suit up and do anything for him.

“Look at Joe, look at Steve, they’ve still got it,” Rice quipped. “I think I can run 80 routes or more. Still could go deep. Still have that rat-a-tat-tat on the sideline. All that, it’s here, it’s still in me.”

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