Bill Walsh: Greatest NFL Head Coach of All Time?
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by AngeHamm
With the passing of Bill Walsh today at the age of 75 comes perspective. Has there ever been a coach with a legacy even comparing with Walsh's?
Consider his career. A 102-63-1 record, 10-4 in the postseason, 3-0 in Super Bowls. Two-time NFL Coach of the Year in 1981 and 1984.
Consider his legacy. No fewer than 29 NFL head coaches can trace their family trees back to the trunk of Walsh. Eight of them won Super Bowls.
Look at this ridiculous list of names, all of whom played or coached for Walsh or Walsh's direct descendants: George Seifert, Mike Holmgren, Dennis Green, Sam Wyche, Ray Rhodes, Bruce Coslet, Tony Dungy, Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden, Brian Billick, Andy Reid, Pete Carroll, Gary Kubiak, Steve Mariucci and Jeff Fisher. Has there ever been anyone like Bill Walsh? Not even Lombardi or Coryell can compare.
And he didn't stop with inspiring people from his own coaching family. Bill Walsh created the Minority Coaching Fellowship in 1987. It produced Marvin Lewis and Tyrone Willingham, and has since become a league-wide initiative.
All this from a man who only spent ten years as an NFL head coach.
So I put it to you: Who else could possibly be considered in the league of Bill Walsh?
