Breaking News : 49ers great Bill Walsh has passed away

by David Fucillo on Jul 30, 2007 2:32 PM PDT in San Francisco 49ers News

Bill Walsh: 1931 - 2007 RIP

I regret to inform everyone that Bill Walsh has passed away after his battle with leukemia. I have to run out for an hour or two, but feel free to use this as an open thread to discuss this great man.

Niners Nation offers it's deepest sympathy and condolences to his family and 49ers fans everywhere. More to come later.

EDITOR'S UPDATE: 1:25PM - I'm going to put together a more complete write up tonight, but feel free to link to any stories or just post your thoughts here. I'll post links on the main part of the story as I see them.

The Chronicle with a great piece

ESPN writeup and retrospective

Jeremey Green: Walsh was a master talent evaluator

Mark Kreidler: Walsh a treasure in Bay Area

Ray Ratto's thoughts

Fox Sports retrospective

EDITOR'S UPDATE: 2:30PM - Here are some more links reflecting on the life and career of Bill Walsh. Also, at espn.com on the top right where they are posting stories, they have a link to a pop-up window with a photo tribute worth checking out. In spite of my recent displeasure with Sports Center, I'd expect a quality retrospective.

ESPN's Hashmarks Blog

Ivan Maisel with a fun story about Walsh

Ray Ratto's thoughts on Walsh over at CBS Sportsline

Clark Judge: Walsh a genius? When it came to managing people, label might have fit

Ira Miller: Walsh's impact on NFL to be felt for years to come

49ers Official Release with quotations from prominent individuals

Waggle Room, the SB Nation golf blog, has their own interesting take on Walsh who became a mentor to Tiger Woods, a fellow Stanford guy. Thanks to Stuart Mulligan for this piece.

For the Stanford fans out there, a cool little piece about Jim Harbaugh spending some time with Bill Walsh after he was Harbaugh was hired as head coach.

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Comments

This is terrible news.

There never was a finer coach. Thank you Mr. Walsh for what you did for the Bay Area.

by War on Jul 30, 2007 12:20 PM PDT reply actions

Rest In Peace

by rimrock101 @ Niners Nation on Jul 30, 2007 12:24 PM PDT reply actions

Condolences

He was a great Coach and will be missed.

Hogs Haven

by Skin Patrol @ Niners Nation on Jul 30, 2007 1:06 PM PDT reply actions

Bill Walsh...

A sad day for the 49er family. To those of us who have watched and loved the niners for all these years, he is a man that we will always remember as the catalyst for making our team into one of the most dominate sports dynasties of all time. No coach was ever better.

And beyond that, a great human being. He made a city and the entire bay area proud and he will be missed...

by coachAJ on Jul 30, 2007 1:31 PM PDT reply actions

The genius

I grew up a 49ers fan in Northern California, so not only do I know how absolutely invaluable Bill Walsh was to the evolution of the game, but how much his team(s) meant to the region. You'll hear a lot about his legacy over the next few days and none of it will be overstated.

My condolences to all his family and fans, and everyone at Niners Nation.

--Shrug
Field Gulls - the SB Nation Seattle Seahawks Blog

by Shrug @ Niners Nation on Jul 30, 2007 1:39 PM PDT reply actions

A very sad day.

This day is a day of mourning for all Niner fans.

Goodbye to Bill. Thanks for your hard work for the Niners organization. You will never be forgotten.

by IM4Niners on Jul 30, 2007 1:48 PM PDT reply actions

Bill Walsh

At my grandmother's house, the upstairs hallway - which is plastered with family portraits - is arranged in such a way that the first, and most important, picture that anybody sees upon entering the hallway is that of Bill Walsh.

'Nuff said. In an extended family of well over 100, the most important member has no blood or marriage relation whatsoever, unless you follow the logic that we all bleed red and gold.

Bill Walsh, I'm privaleged to have been alive in your time. You will live on.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down... over and over...

by howtheyscored on Jul 30, 2007 2:18 PM PDT reply actions

Devastating

I don't know that I've ever felt so much sadness over the death of someone I never met. But I guess that's how it is with the truly special people, the people with such great gifts they touch our hearts and minds. Before our very eyes, Bill Walsh turned a violent and ruthless game into something elegant, beautiful, and undeniably artistic.

He will be forever missed, but knowing what I do about Coach Walsh, I have a feeling he would be more pleased to know he'll be forever imitated -- as we all know, the sincerest form of flattery.

RIP, Bill.

"You gotta bring ass, to get ass." --EDDIE DeBARTOLO JR.

by Josh from Hollywood on Jul 30, 2007 2:51 PM PDT reply actions

Wow...just wow.

I was raised a 49er fan in the Bay Area in the Bill Walsh glory years. A great man, and a great coach who will be missed by fans of the 49ers, and fans of the game of football. My condolences go out to friends and family, and everybody here at this fine blog.

Visiting Seahawks fan

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Jul 30, 2007 4:30 PM PDT reply actions