The San Francisco 49ers, named after California Gold Rush prospectors, are a legendary NFL team that plays its home games at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Founded in 1946 as a charter member of the AAFC before joining the NFL in 1949, they were the first major professional sports franchise based in San Francisco. The team achieved its greatest glory between 1981 and 1994, winning five Super Bowl championships behind Hall of Famers like Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and coach Bill Walsh, and they are tied with the New England Patriots for the most playoff wins in NFL history (40). In 2025, the franchise made headlines off the field when a 9.2% stake was sold, valuing the team at a record-breaking $8.5 billion. Beyond football, the 49ers' enterprise branch has expanded into international soccer, purchasing English club Leeds United in 2023 and acquiring a 51% stake in Scottish club Rangers F.C. in 2025.