What will you remember best about Coach Bill Walsh?

Question

What are your fondest memories of the Hall of Fame S.F. 49ners coach who passed away today at the age of 75?

Answer 1

The man who led the Niners to the Super Bowl 3 times and a man who loved the game. He passed his knowledge of the game on to the youngsters and made them better and smarter players. He's the man that made Joe Montana and Jerry Rice household names of football.

Answer 2

He took a losing football team from his 2 year coaching the 49ers into a excellent team. Firstly, he drafted the best defensive backfield with 3 rookies, Ronnie Lott, Carlton Williamson, and Dwight Hick. He molded them in to the most explosive trio in football history in the rookie season. He dared to use an unknown QB out of Notre Dame, named Joe Montana and a 10th round draft pick WR Dwight Clark. The duo made famous "The Catch" in 1981. In 1984, he went into the Deep South to Mississippi Valley State University, in Itta Bena, Mississippi to draft a Wide Reciever named Jerry Rice. He also engineered a trade for Steve Young! He perfected "The West Coast Offense" which is used by his disciples, Mike Holmgren, Bill Shanahan and numerous others. Bill Walsh is the master deal maker. He along with Carmen Policy and Ed DeBartolo made the 49ers a powerhouse franchise in the NFL. He left a huge legacy for George Seifert, Steve Mariucci, and others that followed.

There will be on other "Genius", he will be surely be missed by all football fans!

Answer 3

I thought Bill Walsh was an innovator who built one of the great franchises in NFL history. He was a genius in the sense that he was able to evaluate talent better than anyone. He also developed the West Coast offense and has many desciples coaching in the NFL today.

I guess his legacy will never leave us. If you look around the NFL, everyone uses a piece of his ideology on how to run an offense.

But I guess what I will remember best about Coach Bill Walsh is what he brought to the fans of a losing franchise. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THE JOY AND PRIDE THAT HE BROUGHT TO THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO!!!

Answer 4

Creator of the West Coast Offense and lead the 49ers to 3 different Super Bowl victory's in the 80's. He started the careers of many of the great NFL coaches like Dennis Green, Mike Holmgren, George Seifert, Jim Fassel, and Paul Hackett.

Answer 5

All the times that the 49ers were down to the last 2 minutes of a losing game and coming back to win with very little hope. He knew how to do the 2 minute drill and he had the quarterback to do it too, Joe Montana. Bill will be missed.

Answer 6

He was a true football genius who designed the "West Coast" offense which many teams later attempted to duplicate. He passed his knowledge of the game to his players, as well as his assistant coaches (many of whom are now or have been head coaches).

This is a sad day for the 49ers and the NFL; we lost one of the all-time greats today.

Answer 7

The Dynasty team of the 80's.

I have one humorous memory to share. John Madden (on his morning show with KCBS) would share about his golf outings with Bill Walsh. John, not being a very good golfer, would ask Bill (being a better golfer) for a handicap. John said Bill's response was always to grab his lower back and deny the request. Or there was that other time after Bill had lasik eye surgery...John said he was afraid to play poker with Bill because 'Bill could now see through everyone's cards.'

Bill always displayed a silent and healthy competitive spirit.

Our condolences to the Walsh family...we will miss him dearly.

Answer 8

Not a lot that I can say about the man that hasn't already been said. He started with a 49ers team that had been the free spot on the bingo card for the league and turned them into champions. Fare well Coach, we'll always remember you.

Answer 9

I would say how he was a great teacher. There many NFL coaches and college coaches who was his assistant. They learned alot and know what it takes to be a successful coach. He was loved among everybody and nobody had problem with a guy with a big and eager to win. He will be known as one of the best coach who won 3 rings

Answer 10

I remember a game where he spoke of not the "game" but the importance of an education and his personal reading on the American Civil War. The sports caster asked if he had a favorite Civil War Hero - he said yes "that would be Stonewall Jackson for the strategy he used against the North, he simply outplayed them on every battle".

I took the importance of education out of this - and that every person can see something decent in an underdog and loser.

Hope this answers your question!