Football
Legenday 49ers Coach Bill Walsh Dies of Leukemia
By Dylan Vox

Jul 31, 2007

Bill Walsh

Bill Walsh was nicknamed "the Genius" by football enthusiasts and commentators for the revolutionary way he lead his teams to victories. His tenure at some of the top colleges and the production of three SuperBowl championships for the 49ers placed him among some of the greatest coaches in NFL history. This week, Walsh passed away from complications caused by leukemia, leaving a legacy of great players and coaches behind.  

Very few men did more to shape the look of football in the 21st century than Bill Walsh, who used innovative game play and strategies to conjure up wins for the teams under his tutelage.  

Born in Los Angeles, California, he started his career as a high school assistant coach and quickly worked his way up to the college ranks. In 1966, after a stint at Stanford University, Walsh joined the NFL as assistant coach for the that time Oakland Raiders.  

He went on to assist at several other successful clubs until finding a permeant home as the head coach for the 49ers, who were in bad shape.  

Walsh recruited such great players as Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Ronnie Lott, and together they began to rebuild the struggling team. Under Walsh's leadership and through his unique playing strategy the 49ers became SuperBowl Champions in 1981, and repeated the win in '84 and '88.  

For his efforts he was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Walsh's son died of leukemia in 2002, and he himself was diagnosed in 2004, and began undergoing treatment. He had retired from coaching, but continued on as Vice President and General Manager of the team and as an NBC sports commentator.  

On July 30, 2007, at 75 years old, Walsh passed away in his Woodside, California home. He will be missed.