It's been a while now since AMC Networks announced the Rise of the 49ers series to debut on AMC and AMC+ next February.
The series purports to explore the turbulent 1980s decade across the Bay Area, and the San Francisco 49ers' role within it. Of course, starting in 1981, Bill Walsh and later George Seifert's Niners acted as an incredible unifying force for the city, winning four Super Bowl championships in an unprecedented run.
With characters like Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Steve Young signed up to tell the story, and in an era of incredible sports documentaries like The Last Dance, there was an understandable level of anticipation from older 49ers fans (and even those of a newer vintage like me) to see the story told on the small screen.
There was one more surprise in store, however, and it came when AMC's trailer for the show appeared on Thursday, as NFL legend and childhood 49ers fan Tom Brady appeared as the teaser's narrator.
Tom Brady reveals full 49ers fandom in upcoming documentary
Brady's set to appear in the documentary, but he's also listed as an executive producer via his Religion of Sports production company.
It's a bittersweet moment for both Brady and Niners fans. The story regarding Brady's childhood fandom of the Niners, and subsequent disappointment when the team chose Giovanni Carmazzi over him in the 2000 NFL Draft, is well documented. But there's been a series of misfires and paths not chosen that could've seen Brady suiting up in the Red and Gold.
Brady was allegedly a surprise trade target for the 49ers in 2017 before their acquisition of Jimmy Garoppolo, while he was also reputed to be interested in the Niners during his free-agency tour in 2020, with some sources saying he would've signed for the team with no other visits.
By most accounts, San Francisco elected to stick with then-quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, something Brady appeared to obliquely take exception to in later interviews, although he may not have digged at the 49ers after all.
Finally, the 49ers openly admitted pursuing him if he elected to come out of retirement in 2023, as Kyle Shanahan looked to take a veteran team over the hump amid concerns over Brock Purdy's injured elbow. That, of course, didnt happen, and the Niners went on to make the Super Bowl anyway.
After all those missed opportunities, it was no surprise recently, given Brady's internal fire, that the legendary quarterback disavowed any emotional attachment to the Niners in a recent podcast appearance, citing the Carmazzi draft pick as the main reasoning.
"Every time I played the Niners, I just wanted to make sure that the coaches who were out there at the time knew that you chose a goat farmer over me — and I never forgot that," Brady said.
Despite all the brouhaha and hurt feelings, this trailer appears to show quite the opposite being the case. Brady seems positively gushing about his history with the 49ers, and his involvement clearly seems to have come from a place of love.
The quarterback talks openly about having season tickets at Candlestick Park, and even references wanting to be "Joe Montana throwing to Jerry Rice," in one moment during the trailer.
It remains to be seen how much involvement Brady has in the overall show, but what is clear is that the series will likely be a love letter to the greatest era in 49ers history. And the trailer leaves me, and I'm sure many others, looking forward to watching it. While Walsh has sadly passed (and it would've been wonderful to hear his voice on this show), the sheer lineup of big names, including Brady, ready to add color to this story raises the expectation levels.
With NFL Films and AMC Studios collaborating on the final product, it should be chock-full of some great footage and insight. Perhaps Brady will even admit that most of his hurt regarding the Niners stems from the disappointment of never actually getting to suit up for them. It's certainly clear that his love's still there.
We'll find out on Feb. 1.