RIP Bill Walsh
Bill Walsh died today. And I thought it would be a nice idea to pay tribute to a guy who helped make the NFL what it is now. Except for the dogfighting. He had nothing to do with that.
Walsh was the guy who made it okay for smart people to like football. And, while that may mean he is indirectly responsible for Gregg Easterbrook, on the whole I’d say he did a whole lot more good than harm. The reason the game is so entertaining today outside of Cleveland is because of Walsh’s innovations. He’s the reason millions of people across the country enjoy the shared experience of watching the NFL together: friends, families, colleagues, idiot bloggers, and more. And that’s a pretty sweet mark to leave on the world.
Walsh won three Super Bowls in just 10 years of coaching. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. I hope he’s up in heaven right now, showing God the correct way to run the 32 Waggle Pass.
Tags: Big Daddy Drew, here's to you Genius, obits
July 30th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
football Jesus has always wondered about the 32 Waggle Pass.
RIP Mr. Walsh.
July 30th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
bill walsh = legend. R.I.P. coach
July 30th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
Well said. Walsh was a genius and he’ll be missed.
July 30th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Tom Snyder, Ingmar Bergman and Bill Walsh; I guess this stuff really does happen in threes.
You’re absolutely right about Walsh’s influence; he influenced everybody from George Seifert to Steve Mariucci to Mike Holmgren to Andy Reid… actually, this link paints a better picture.
The 49ers were always my 2nd favorite team, because compared to the Cowboys and Raiders, they were always “the good guys” in my mind.
Rest in peace, Bill.
July 30th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Well said all. CD, that tree is pretty awesome. Majority of them are pretty decent coaches.
July 30th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Lots of love to the Walsh’s and Bill’s extended family all over the NFL landscape.
/Gregg Easterbrook isn’t smart, he’s just an intellectual.
July 30th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Rest in peace, Coach. There are plenty of fanbases with their own successful coaches who owe careers, and championships, to Walsh.
July 30th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Belichick is suing over your infringement on his trademark “Genius”.
July 30th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
I expected something about Bill Walsh’s football video game in the eulogy.
July 30th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Greatest head coach ever. And yes, I’m biased.
July 30th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Bill Walsh and the 49ers provided me with two of the greatest moments of my life by beating the Bengals twicein the Super Bowl. My brother is a Bengals fan and I enjoy his suffering.
July 30th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
I’m a Redskins fan and Bill Walsh is the only coach of a rival I completely respected. He was all class and reminded me of Dean Smith. He didn’t need to be a big loud fucktard (I’m looking at you Parcells) to be successful.
Wait, I’m getting a call . . .
Deion Sanders doesn’t think Bill Walsh was the ring leader of the West Coast offense and we should wait until he’s eaten by dogs.
Crazy Primetime.
July 30th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
As a Cowboys fan, I’ve hated the 49ers since 1981 and that “play” but I do have to say that Bill Walsh always excuded class and had his players play a new brand of football that IS responsible for most of us loving the game like we do today. They don’t make coaches like him anymore.
R.I.P. Coach Walsh. Now Lombardi and Landry have some competition up there in Heaven.
July 30th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Bill Walsh was the greatest coach, of the greatest team, that had the greatest QB, the greatest WR and the greatest safety of all time.
And yeah, I’m a 49ers fan.
Thanks for mentioning this, it is a truly sad piece of news.
http://reignoferror.blogspot.com
July 30th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
I speak for all Niner fans when I say, Thanks Drew.
RIP Coach.
July 30th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Dammit. I had Marv Levy #1 on this year’s “former NFL coach death pool!”
July 30th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
I’m pretty sure the guy responsible for the Hail Mary can decipher the waggle.
Vanderjagt’s wide right, however? All Satan, baby.
July 30th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
Walsh was a class act and he will be missed. RIP coach.
July 30th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
Bill Walsh was such a good coach, he set Seifert up so well that even that clown could win some rings.
July 31st, 2007 at 12:15 am
Short, sweet and effective, Drew. Just like the passes in Walsh’s WCO*.
*Still and Air Coryell gal, myself.
July 31st, 2007 at 12:55 am
Although I was but a wee babe when the 49ers were cool (good), I will miss him. Between him and Jim Mora, they almost made it seem cool to drink Coors Light.
Almost.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:44 am
Michael Lewis wrote a lot about how Walsh changed football in his book, “The Blind Side.” If any of you are looking for a good football read, pick it up. It talks alot about the Walsh v Parcells schools of thought while they were both coaching and how Walsh was able to take terrible QBs and make them look brilliant. Highly suggested read. We all know he was an amazing coach and revolutionized the game, but it’s really amazing to see it broken down and explained.
Of course, this is only useful information if you like, read books and stuff. Nerd.