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Former 49ers coach Bill Walsh passes away
By David Zizmor July 30, 2007 |
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Former San Francisco 49er and Stanford Cardinal head coach Bill Walsh passed away early on Monday morning after suffering a long bout with leukemia, Walsh passed away at his home in Woodside, Ca at the age of 75. Walsh coached the 49ers from 1979 to 1989 for 10 seasons. Walsh served as the Cardinal head coach two different times over five seasons. Walsh led the 49ers to three Super Bowl titles, going 102-63-1 and winning 10 of 14 playoff games and won NFL Coach of the Year between 1981-1984. After taking over the 49ers in 1979 Walsh built the team out of has been and drafted some key talent and two years later in 1981 lead the team to their first Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals. Walsh developed what would later be household names quarterbacks Joe Montana, Steve Young, other 49er greats Jerry Rice, Wendell Tyler, John Taylor, Randy Cross, Carlton Williamson, Bill Ring, and many others. Walsh had a rookie quarterback by the name of Joe Montana in 1979 and developed Montana into one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. When Walsh coach the 1979 49ers the 49ers had finished at 2-14 that season. However, with Montana and the development of the 49ers Montana and Walsh would take the 49ers on an adventure in the 1980s not seen since in pro football. When owner Eddie DeBartolo owned the club he furnished all the players and draft picks that Bill Walsh needed there was nothing that Walsh could ask for that Eddie wouldn't supply just so it would help Walsh win and win he did. Walsh went onto win another Super Bowl in 1984 at of all places Stanford Stadium against the Miami Dolphins. The game was tight and Walsh's famous West Coast offense headed up by Montana led the charge that helped the 49ers launch a come back in just a matter of mere minutes to surpass the Dolphins for the Super Bowl win. Walsh took the 49ers for his final Super Bowl against the Denver Broncos in what was a landslide victory in picking up his third and final Super Bowl as the Niners head coach. Walsh started out back in 1966 as an assistant coach for the Oakland Raiders and learned about from assistant coaches Paul Brown, Sid Gillman and Al Davis. When Walsh left the Raiders in 1968, he went to work with Brown as an assistant in Cincinnati. In 1976, Walsh and Brown had a falling out in coaching philosophy and Walsh went to coach at Stanford between 1977-1978 before joining the 49ers for the 1979 season. Walsh after finishing his tenure with the 49ers in 1989 was succeeded by one of his assistant coaches George Seifert who later led San Francisco to two more Super Bowls and had the best record for a head coach in 49ers history. The team that Walsh left Seifert was custom made and the talent so thick that the 49ers were full proof. Walsh had a receiver he developed by the name of Jerry Rice who at first doubted his ability to play in the NFL. But Walsh with the West Coast offense and the play book that he developed for the team tailor made the plays for the speedy youngster out of Mississippi State to being not only a Hall Fame wide out but one of the best wide receivers in NFL history. Walsh battled with leukemia since 2004 and had gone through rounds of chemotherapy in 2006. Walsh wanted to raise leukemia awareness and had help from local politicians Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger and Senator Dianne Feinstein. Many coaches since have inherited Walsh's West Coast offense and have credited the play book on the West Coast offense to their success. Walsh was 75. He was born on November 30, 1931 in Los Angeles and moved to the bay area when he was in his teens he got married to Geri Nardini in 1954. Walsh boxed while in college between 1952-53. The Oakland A's and Detroit Tigers honored Walsh with a moment of silence before Monday night's game at the Oakland Coliseum. David Zizmor co-hosts Sportstalk and covers 49ers football and the NFL. |
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