A Tree Grows in Frisco
When you pass on from this world, I believe that your legacy is not what you've accomplished, but the impact 
you've had on the people left behind. I believe that Frank Capra nailed it in "It's a Wonderful Life" by pointing out that each of our lives touches other lives and that moment or year or lifetime is a key in the development and enrichment of other people.
All of us have had teachers and role models and mentors who we can look back at fondly and say "Boy, I'm glad I got to work with that person" or "I'm glad I had a chance to talk with that person because he really turned my life, my career, around."
This is how Bill Walsh should be remembered. The people that he came in contact with were enriched and had their potential tapped while they were around him. There was Joe Montana, a third round pick from Notre Dame who people didn't think would be a successful pro quarterback. There was Jerry Rice, from little Mississippi Valley State who people thought couldn't play with the big boys. And there were countless others who played under Bill Walsh that benefited from his system.
The coaching tree that Walsh leaves behind is a whose who of outstanding coaches. Mike Holmgren, who mentored Andy Reed, Ray Rhodes and Mike Sherman. Mike Shanahan, who developed Gary Kubiak. Jim Fassal who hired John Fox. Paul Hackett, Sam Wyche and Denny Green whose own branches include Brain Billick, Mike Tice and Tony Dungy which leads us to Jack Del Rio, Scott Linehan, Lovie Smith, Rod Marinelli and Mike Tomlin.
By my count, 19 current Walsh tree coaches are currently running NFL teams. In fact, two whole divisions (NFC North, AFC South) have divisions made up entirely of coaches from the Walsh tree. That's almost two thirds of the league with Walsh's imprint still on it. That my friends is a legacy. And the number of former head coaches is staggering. Outside of the mother tree Walsh sprang from, the Paul Brown tree, there is no other more successful coaching tree probably in all of sports.
The impact that Bill Walsh had on the game of professional football cannot be felt just by what he, himself accomplished. Sure, he won championships and had teams that played at a high level, but despite the fact that he has passed on, his genius lives on in the men who served under him and the men who served under them. Bill Walsh is still very much alive in the NFL and will continue to be for many years to come.
you've had on the people left behind. I believe that Frank Capra nailed it in "It's a Wonderful Life" by pointing out that each of our lives touches other lives and that moment or year or lifetime is a key in the development and enrichment of other people.All of us have had teachers and role models and mentors who we can look back at fondly and say "Boy, I'm glad I got to work with that person" or "I'm glad I had a chance to talk with that person because he really turned my life, my career, around."
This is how Bill Walsh should be remembered. The people that he came in contact with were enriched and had their potential tapped while they were around him. There was Joe Montana, a third round pick from Notre Dame who people didn't think would be a successful pro quarterback. There was Jerry Rice, from little Mississippi Valley State who people thought couldn't play with the big boys. And there were countless others who played under Bill Walsh that benefited from his system.
The coaching tree that Walsh leaves behind is a whose who of outstanding coaches. Mike Holmgren, who mentored Andy Reed, Ray Rhodes and Mike Sherman. Mike Shanahan, who developed Gary Kubiak. Jim Fassal who hired John Fox. Paul Hackett, Sam Wyche and Denny Green whose own branches include Brain Billick, Mike Tice and Tony Dungy which leads us to Jack Del Rio, Scott Linehan, Lovie Smith, Rod Marinelli and Mike Tomlin.
By my count, 19 current Walsh tree coaches are currently running NFL teams. In fact, two whole divisions (NFC North, AFC South) have divisions made up entirely of coaches from the Walsh tree. That's almost two thirds of the league with Walsh's imprint still on it. That my friends is a legacy. And the number of former head coaches is staggering. Outside of the mother tree Walsh sprang from, the Paul Brown tree, there is no other more successful coaching tree probably in all of sports.
The impact that Bill Walsh had on the game of professional football cannot be felt just by what he, himself accomplished. Sure, he won championships and had teams that played at a high level, but despite the fact that he has passed on, his genius lives on in the men who served under him and the men who served under them. Bill Walsh is still very much alive in the NFL and will continue to be for many years to come.
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