Nice. I met him when I was 9 at Cattlemens Steakhouse in Roseville California. It was summer of 96 when they used to have training camp in Rocklin he was sitting right behind us eating dinner with his wife. Still have the autograph signed to my brother and me on a kids menu.
I love that they did specials on guys like Walsh and Dick Vermeil. There is this intense, emotional dimension to them that isn't often looked at in sports - especially ones as rough and tumble as football. Emotions are seen as a sign of weakness yet Walsh - perhaps the greatest head coach in NFL history - was an incredibly emotional and self-critical man and was willing to pour that out in his book. That's not a sign of weakness. That's a sign of incredible strength and humanity.
Well said. Walsh was a brilliant leader of men. He won championships while still setting- up the 49ers to win after his departure. And he laid bare his vulnerabilities, but at times to his detriment. Nobody better.
It's possibly and perhaps because of his own personality that Bill Walsh diminished the role of emotions on the football field, preferring instead to focus on attaining such a level of performance that you could win even when not 'up'
Every team in the NFL runs a version of the old “west coast “ offense, how the game is played today is a direct reflection of Bill Walsh .... he still doesn’t get the credit he deserves...
@@aggie7756This may be true but the players today are bigger, faster and much better trained. One handed catches are common. Please don't think for one minute that football is not a brutal game still, just take a look how many players are injured on a weekly basis.
@@mtadams2009 Not sure what your point is. Entertainment for me is not one-handed catches or "bigger and faster" players, nor 50 flags a game, nor games decided by refs.
West coast offense is definitely popular, not every team runs a version of it. The Patriots run an Erhardt-Perkins offense which was created in the 70's be Patriot coachs to be effective in New England weather. It's rushing and short precision passing. A handful a teams run a version of this.
The snippet of Montana's eulogy for Walsh is very moving. My favorite moment is when they are kneeling on the grass together with Joe seemingly testing the turf. GREAT stuff.
Agreed: Walsh revolutionized the game like no other. Lombardi is a close second though. Bill B has the best eye for talent but the brilliant nuance of Walsh's mind is something Bill B could only dream about (just listen to the analytical mind at work on those tape recordings).
Love bill was a great man meet him once when I was a kid he asked me was i a niner fan I said yes he said good and winked at me best memory ever love u bill
@@iron60bitch62 lol did you not watch this ALL his former players Love him they all know that the NFL is a businesses and he made the best businesses decisions that help the team win lol he didn't destroy anyones life or career if anything he made their careers
@@richardgutierrez26 But he also ran a team of criminals. Every time they played against Joe Montana, it seems that his Giants were out to hurt Joe in which they did twice. By the way, I think Bill Parcells won often because he was a sneaky SOB. In 1990, his Giants got a 1st down out of a fake punt, Parcells leaped into the air as if his Giants executed the greatest play in football. If it was coach Bill Walsh, I am sure Walsh would not be very proud of that.
I moved to SF in 80. Mom remarried. Step father was a big fan. I became one. I saw it all happen. Walsh was the greatest. Those years being a Niner fan, nothing can compare. Thank you Mr. Walsh.
TT Boy 1981 was Bill Walsh’s 3rd year as 49ers Head Coach and that was when he finally was able to implement his program with the players he wanted and it payed off with a SB title.
Great to see his former players speaking about him; Ronnie Lott, Dwight Clark, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Randy Cross, Jerry Rice, Sam Wyche. Bill Walsh touched so many lives.
Agreed, 100%. And this coming from a Bengals fan. If only Paul Brown had turned the reins of the Bengals over to Bill Walsh instead of Bill Johnson.....*sigh*
Bill Walsh & Dick Vermeil's close relationship was magnificent to learn about! Both were their own worst critics when they were both legendary coaches!
Look man I love dick vermeil and I’m not saying the Guy isn’t a great coach. But he isn’t a legend like Walsh, Belichick, Lombardi and jimmy motherfucking Johnson
Well thank you Stanford for giving Bill Walsh a head coaching opportunity, otherwise the football world may have never found out what this man could REALLY do.
The part where Brett Musberger asks Walsh in the locker room in January, 1989 after defeating Cincy for the 2nd time in a Super Bowl, if "this was the final time we see the great Bill Walsh?"...and Walsh just craters into the arms of his son....still hits me hard 33 yrs later.
Dude no doubt. The greatest modern innovator of the modern age. His system took the game and changed it forever. He knew how to teach it and all his guys suddenly became the gatekeepers that took it everywhere else and continued to evolve it. All his guys got head gigs , because it became vital to winning games
West coast system was like windows or Macintosh pc user friendly software to D.O.S. It made the product so much better it was never gonna go back, it was the new standard
Can't help but feel bad for the guy. He's like any genius, regardless of the form. Never truly happy with any accomplishment and always thinking about what they missed. Whether it's a scientist, a painter, or a business man. They just can never acknowledge they did something great
Bill Walsh's book, _The Score Takes Care of Itself_ really changed my life. This man was a genius across so many domains of life...an honorable man worthy of emulation.
Jim McNeely just bought it. Taking a new position at another company. Can't wait. I could watch film on the west coast offense for hours and I'm a Broncos fan.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. What really shook me to my core was his discussion of preparation BEFORE a crisis. That's why I have checklists for many of the things in life that are so emotional that the left part of the brain shuts down. Example: The death of one or more of my children.
Massive Broncos fan. Niners hater. But I cannot get past the genius of Bill Walsh. He was one-of-a-kind and that mind of his was a gift to football for all time and beyond Paul Brown be darned.
He was wise beyond his years, a very hard working, dedicated person, in every aspect of his life, the football life. Rest In Peace, respect and admiration from, a 49ers fan. Thank God for Football, indeed.
@@danbrock1843 nope go look at Walsh track record HD invented Westcoast offense,best draft track record and has best coaching tree head coach. He drafted 2 goat receiver 2 goat quarterback goat safeties and his coaching tree from holmgram to Kyle Shanahan is wayyyyy beyond belicheat draft track record and all his student head coach all was trash. You got to go and look back on his track record and resume
I know his track record. To stay in the SB conversation for 20 years, in the free agency era, is unheard of. Win 6 and be in 9, also ridiculous. And all the great ones will "cheat" for a subtle advantage. Didn't you see that phone thing with ur boy and Parcells. Also, who is the 2nd GOAT receiver? Don't say Clark or Taylor.. He didn't take on the GM role again until 99 so T.O. is out
@@danbrock1843 he is beyond belicheat overall as a head coach/gm. He beat belicheat 2 out of the 3. He overall as a gm drafter while coaching his coaching tree beat Bill. Bill is the beat defense coordinator other than thsy he is trash. Idc Walsh drafted t.o so it does count, and Walsh never cheated to that degree belicheat got caught even later on that how bad he was. Ring dint mean you are the goat. It the whole resume that count and that include as a drafter and how your studented went on and he beat him 2 out of the 3. Them as coordinator is a tie Bill is that good as Walsh was but overall Walsh washes belicheat
i am a raiders fan through and through, but bill walsh literally changed the history of the 49ers football team. he was indeed one of the greatest head coaches of all time, and a wonderful human being.
What a shame Brown blackballed such a great coach like that. How sweet and ironic that walsh won 2 of his 3 supers vs cincy and each one was a heart wrenching loss for the bengals. RIP coach walsh, you were a great coach and a great human being as well and will never be forgotten. You are my most admired coach in any sport of my lifetime.
@sboudreaux27 Yep I'm sure it was especially if Paul Brown was still alive for them. Biggest mistake in cincy franchise history. They would have won under him just like he did for SF.
@@rawn4203 Bill Walsh would have guided the Bengals to win something but I doubt that would be anything near the successes of the 49ers. Because the 49ers' successes had a lot to do with one man, Eddie Debartolo.
@@benthekeeshond545 Possibly, really would have depended on what kind of role Walsh would have had in drafting players, making trades, cuts etc. Obviously if cincy management isnt smart enough to let walsh be their coach, they probably also arent smart enough to let him make the player selections, or as bill parcells famously said "If I'm going to be asked to cook the meal, I'd like to be able to pick the groceries."
brown was obviously upset that walsh let the bengals.but walsh left because brown didnt give him the head coaching job.i can understand why walsh left.
For Us 49ers fans we will always be grateful to Bill Walsh. He is to us what Vince Lombardi is to the Packers Thank u Bill for building our beloved SF49ers Franchise
52:36 "To get to greatness in life, one has to overcome their weaknesses." This is why some will always have "more" than others: they have the will to do the overcoming.
I was in the Navy, stationed at NAS Moffett Field with VP48. I was aware of the 49ers, but they were just kind of a joke. The 49ers went from being the NFL "Practice Team" to a freight train barrelling down the tracks seemingly overnight. A Football Life has done a great job explaining just how the Walsh Express left the station and picked up all that momentum. Well done indeed.
A great man, even greater coach, I just wished he could have not been such a perfectionst and enjoyed the fruits of his labor as a football coach. I won't call him a genius because he has said he disliked it, but when it came to intricate detailed football, no one was ever better !
The episode on Tom Landry: "I think I can alternate Staubach and Morton." The episode on Bill Walsh: "I think I can alternate Montana and Young." Apparently alternating QBs is the "I have a great idea: let's invade Russia in the wintertime" of NFL coaching.
That was all mind games on their part. No QB at that level wants to share the position. What they were really saying is, "If you want the starting job, you're going to have to fight for it."
As a 49ers fan this was absolutely great to watch, it also confimed a lot of my thoughts about Bill Walsh that I observed from a far, he was a genius and also a very complex man. I always thought of him as the most business like coach to ever walk the sidelines and the way he could dispose of players before their time was up was like the coldest of CEO's they were obviously hurt by it because they loved him and wanted his approval i'm glad many of them were able to make amends before his passing, and it was very touching to see Joe Montana's eulogy to him at the end. Thank you for posting this.
Chris Buck Looks like he's right up there with Landry as far as being business-like goes. Landry was just as ruthless when it came to switching out players too
I was born in Nor Cal in 1981. I've been a fan since. I remember being a kid watching the 49ers and thought they were so damn graceful yet badass. That 94/95 team was one of the greatest in NFL history
This gentleman you addressed as "Mr. Walsh", every time you make his acquaintance...that is how much respect he commanded and EARNED over the years. Thank you Mr. Walsh for giving us the legacy team of the 49`s and the legacy of your life and fabulous coaching career. With our profound veneration for the man that you are, and for giving us the dynasty of the niners. May your wonderful and heartfelt dedicated soul forever rest in eternal peace in God's eternal kingdom. You are sadly missed and never will be forgotten.
Thank you Coach Walsh for the wonderful memories from watching the 49ers play. At times the 49ers were just breathtaking to watch. RIP & God bless a coaching legend Bill Walsh.
It was such an honor, & a privilege to see this era of 49er football in the City of SF. Legends came out this era of 49er football. I hate that Coach Walsh played Joe, & Steve against each other, but we all still love what he, & Joe Montana achieved for the City of San Francisco. Tom Brady may be the GOAT, but Joe Montana is the one & only original GOAT.
One of the best football life’s to date. Also makes me realize how cursed my Bengals are to be so close to several championships and never be able to get over the hump. They’ve almost won 3 super bowls and had they given the head coaching job to Walsh back then, they wouldve probably won at least a couple of titles in the 80’s
I am a Bengals fan, and after Marvin Lewis got a new contract through 2019, I realize the curse of Paul Brown. Bill Walsh was ahead of his time, and got revenge on his former team twice ('81 and '88). He went on to make the '9ers the '9ers. The Bengals went on to become the Bungles. Now we have a "wanna be'' owner in Mike Brown, who doesn't know the mistakes his father made. Learn the lesson of revenge and "what could have happened"... Good luck to the '49ers...
yeah, and even if the bengals get to the super bowl, the niners are there personally to stomp them...Actually, both games were close-but you know what I mean
The part that really amazes me is how his offense is run step by step literally, and how the specified amount of step should be the window the receivers would be open
48:05 “five minutes into the game, he said this game is over” as a diehard Broncos I knew as soon as the AFC championship game was over and before the NFC championship game started Denver has NO shot!
Truth. Also a Broncos fan (well, I'm not a fan of sports teams these days, but still). That 89' Niners squad is one of the 3 greatest teams in NFL history. In many other seasons, the Rams would've had a good shot to win it all. The Broncos shouldn't have even bothered showing up.
@@eugenedenbrook322 In a way it was kinda good knowing the winner 2 weeks before the game started. You had no expectations of winning and you looked at the game totally relaxed waiting for the full embarrassment to begin.
Mike Holmgren was great in his approach of never biting his tongue. I think, Coach Walsh definitely needed to hear that, definitely. Credit to coach Holmgren💯💯 (about the 41:00 Mark)
I like the double-irony on that one: --Holmgren: I'll never do that to my coaches. (Cut to Holmgren doing that to his coaches) --Young: You feel bad seeing your coach get yelled at, so you want to do better. (Cut to Favre laughing at his coach getting yelled at)
The episodes of the Football Life are awesome because they discuss the human element of that person in their strengths, weaknesses, joys, and disappointments. I remember the 1982 NFC Championship Game as a child, but I learned how to appreciate it the older I get. That game also represented a change of guard in the NFC that lasted throughout the remaining 1980s when the 49ers ruled the NFL while the Cowboys faded away. The 49ers were the early 21st century Patriots in the way they just knew how to win.
Paul Brown. He created four power house teams when he was at the helm. He helped make Massillon a very dominant high school team, then laid the foundation at Ohio State and won a title, then founded the Cleveland Browns and went to ten straight title games winning 7, then founded the Bengals and took them to a super bowl. He's literally won at every level outside of pop warner and has done way more than any coach will do.
Paul Brown was a real ***hole towards Walsh. I don't think it was a motivation thing, I think it could have been jealousy, or fear of changing the game, or he just flat out misread Walsh.
As a Browns fan who's read quite a bit about Paul Brown, it's hard not to come away from it thinking two things: 1) He's responsible for a lot of the modern NFL; and 2) He could be a remarkable dick to his players and coaches--I'm not sure that it was jealousy so much as it was once he decided something about a guy (his potential, whether or not he had "crossed" Brown, etc.), he would do anything to make sure the guy stayed in his "place."
This man was a Creator of a new system offense took a team from the dumps and took them to the top winning 3 Superbowls thats not even counting his coaching tree Superbowls and championship games
He was one of those unique coaches like a Sid Gilman or Paul Brown his mentor and Tom Landry just one of those guys that innovated the game and made it end up like it is now when watch on Sunday.Lots of great coaches but only a few who actually changed the game.
@Matt Beeman Yes initially Landry was way ahead of the game but he coached past his prime. He cost the Cowboys Superbowls by not recognizing talent, by not wanting to play young players, and his rigid stay within the system plan. Football is like life, shit happens and you improvise. Landry couldn't do that.
David Mazzini yes, other than the Super Bowl. Perfect regular season. I’m not a Patriot fan they have ruined my teams lives.. they are the greatest organization of all time. Belichick and Brady are the best. They don’t have to play another game from here on out to make that any less true.. haters going to hate buddy.
A GREAT role model and once in a lifetime a GREAT coach. We can all be proud of Mr. Walsh and all of his ACCOMPLISHMENTS throughout his years. Thank you Mr. Walsh for the man and coach that you were, and for your tutuledge over the years....
Did not know he was a protege of Legend Paul Brown! That explains everything!! Second, I coached some ball and the best coach I worked with preached, "footwork", day and night. In basketball, in soccer, in football.... footwork separates the good from the great.
Anatoly Tarasov, who was the most innovative coach ever in any sport, constantly drilled his CSKA players and later his National team players on the fundamentals of footwork on dryland, as well as on the ice. I thought you might be interested in that because of your username.
Bill Walsh was also a master of spotting talent that no one else knew. I clearly remember in the 1985 draft saying, "Who is Jerry Rice and where is Mississippi Valley State?" I couldn't understandit at this time not know Bill had drafted the greatest football player of all time.
I'll never forget that article in SI about how the Forty Niner scouts, including actor Bradford Dillman of all people, helped find some of the obscure talent that made them one of the best dynasties in the NFL. Pretty Fantastic!
Bill Walsh's Book Finding the Winning Edge is a Cult Classic as far as books go. I have it, a true Masterpiece. Even if it's shoved on the sports section. I encourage every perspective football coach or fan as myself as a perspective coach to give Finding a Winning Edge, a Good Read, period!!!
Bill Walsh is such an amazing human being. I don’t know how football people used to think being a man’s man with zero emotion and tough as nails was the only possible way to be a head coach but bill Walsh brought humanity to the sport in that of course you’ll have good days and bad days, ups and downs, but that’s okay. As long as you get your ass back up and make things work, you can have emotions. The way he said you have multiple chances at succeeding in your passion but it feels like you only have one and then you’re deemed as a failure. Even though Bill felt the same way in feeling like a failure even though he did a good job, he never gave up and that’s what’s important.
The catch had many casualties. It is so sad that Danny White is so forgotten. What a QB vanquished by one play. I'm a Rams fan and that play still hurts.
With the 9ers trading up to #3 to draft a QB, it kinda reminds me of the 'creative tension' that Bill employed.. Hopefully it brings the best out of everybody! Let's go win a Super Bowl for Bill!!
Bill Walsh was complex but he knew how to motivate his players and at the end of the day thats what a coach does its sad that he was a tortured soul for so long but his genius is still seen in todays NFl
You guys do a great job of honoring people thank you so much for all the hard work you do these are great productions of the ideal of passing on excellence. pax Christi.
Subscribe to my New Channel Completely Biased!: ruclips.net/channel/UCJT0cE793VPPHgoxod7D6AA
At least you appear honest.
Bill Walsh was an incredible human being. Beautiful soul.” I met him when I was 6 and he signed my 49’er hat.
Nice. I met him when I was 9 at Cattlemens Steakhouse in Roseville California. It was summer of 96 when they used to have training camp in Rocklin he was sitting right behind us eating dinner with his wife. Still have the autograph signed to my brother and me on a kids menu.
Pedro
I love that they did specials on guys like Walsh and Dick Vermeil. There is this intense, emotional dimension to them that isn't often looked at in sports - especially ones as rough and tumble as football. Emotions are seen as a sign of weakness yet Walsh - perhaps the greatest head coach in NFL history - was an incredibly emotional and self-critical man and was willing to pour that out in his book. That's not a sign of weakness. That's a sign of incredible strength and humanity.
LOL...no kidding...when you're calling Dick Vermeil to calm you down you're high strung!
Well said. Walsh was a brilliant leader of men. He won championships while still setting- up the 49ers to win after his departure. And he laid bare his vulnerabilities, but at times to his detriment. Nobody better.
Jesus loves u and died for u
It's possibly and perhaps because of his own personality that Bill Walsh diminished the role of emotions on the football field, preferring instead to focus on attaining such a level of performance that you could win even when not 'up'
jygfjgyuk
RIP Bill Walsh. Your football life was THE football life. Thanks for the memories.
Goat 🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐
Perfectly stated
Every team in the NFL runs a version of the old “west coast “ offense, how the game is played today is a direct reflection of Bill Walsh .... he still doesn’t get the credit he deserves...
Right on! However, today's game is a watered-down version of the NFL of last century.
Anthony Hunter Paul brown taught him don’t forget that
@@aggie7756This may be true but the players today are bigger, faster and much better trained. One handed catches are common. Please don't think for one minute that football is not a brutal game still, just take a look how many players are injured on a weekly basis.
@@mtadams2009 Not sure what your point is. Entertainment for me is not one-handed catches or "bigger and faster" players, nor 50 flags a game, nor games decided by refs.
West coast offense is definitely popular, not every team runs a version of it. The Patriots run an Erhardt-Perkins offense which was created in the 70's be Patriot coachs to be effective in New England weather. It's rushing and short precision passing. A handful a teams run a version of this.
Bill telling Ronnie how beautiful Joe foot work is hilarious 😂
Sensual lol
The snippet of Montana's eulogy for Walsh is very moving. My favorite moment is when they are kneeling on the grass together with Joe seemingly testing the turf. GREAT stuff.
Actually they were using the grass to draw a play like kids at the park do.
Bill Walsh is the greatest coach ever. His attention to detail and creativity is unmatched.
Markus Brown Vince Lombardi
Its belichick and its not even close. Lombardi? LOL foh
No it’s bill, Landry was better than Walsh
Speak the truth
Agreed: Walsh revolutionized the game like no other. Lombardi is a close second though. Bill B has the best eye for talent but the brilliant nuance of Walsh's mind is something Bill B could only dream about (just listen to the analytical mind at work on those tape recordings).
Love bill was a great man meet him once when I was a kid he asked me was i a niner fan I said yes he said good and winked at me best memory ever love u bill
That’s all you need is the link from a guy who fuck with peoples lives and careers
@@iron60bitch62 lol did you not watch this ALL his former players Love him they all know that the NFL is a businesses and he made the best businesses decisions that help the team win lol he didn't destroy anyones life or career if anything he made their careers
He was so sweet
@@richardgutierrez26
But he also ran a team of criminals. Every time they played against Joe Montana, it seems that his Giants were out to hurt Joe in which they did twice. By the way, I think Bill Parcells won often because he was a sneaky SOB. In 1990, his Giants got a 1st down out of a fake punt, Parcells leaped into the air as if his Giants executed the greatest play in football. If it was coach Bill Walsh, I am sure Walsh would not be very proud of that.
Cool story bruh
I moved to SF in 80. Mom remarried. Step father was a big fan. I became one. I saw it all happen. Walsh was the greatest. Those years being a Niner fan, nothing can compare. Thank you Mr. Walsh.
TT Boy....my Dad acquired our 4 season ticketed seats at The 'Stick in 1980 as well, I was 7 yrs old, and I couldn't agree with you more....
TT Boy 1981 was Bill Walsh’s 3rd year as 49ers Head Coach and that was when he finally was able to implement his program with the players he wanted and it payed off with a SB title.
Great to see his former players speaking about him; Ronnie Lott, Dwight Clark, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Randy Cross, Jerry Rice, Sam Wyche. Bill Walsh touched so many lives.
NFL productions did an awesome job on this episode . This is by far the best episode of " The Football Life ."
Agreed, 100%. And this coming from a Bengals fan.
If only Paul Brown had turned the reins of the Bengals over to Bill Walsh instead of Bill Johnson.....*sigh*
Hands down! No question
I agree and coming from a Redskin fan. I also think Cleveland 95 and the one on the Oilers were really really good too.
Tom Landry
This and the Joe Namath
Bill Walsh & Dick Vermeil's close relationship was magnificent to learn about! Both were their own worst critics when they were both legendary coaches!
Look man I love dick vermeil and I’m not saying the Guy isn’t a great coach. But he isn’t a legend like Walsh, Belichick, Lombardi and jimmy motherfucking Johnson
Well thank you Stanford for giving Bill Walsh a head coaching opportunity, otherwise the football world may have never found out what this man could REALLY do.
The part where Brett Musberger asks Walsh in the locker room in January, 1989 after defeating Cincy for the 2nd time in a Super Bowl, if "this was the final time we see the great Bill Walsh?"...and Walsh just craters into the arms of his son....still hits me hard 33 yrs later.
What a tormented soul.
I hate the Numbers anyway but He got rid of Montana in his Prime!
A lot of geniuses are
@GIL Favor huh. Did you even watch the video.
@GIL Favor the video shows what walsh did to Montana
@@jameson6930 That would of been George Seifert not Bill Walsh that traded Montana
Bill Walsh was an absolute legend.
Man iam a 4th generation 49er Fan grew up in the 80's man it was a great time just like eating at Papa Pateros Pizza during that time .
Coach Walsh is in the top 5 greatest coaches of all time, just a class act! God rest his soul
Dude no doubt. The greatest modern innovator of the modern age. His system took the game and changed it forever. He knew how to teach it and all his guys suddenly became the gatekeepers that took it everywhere else and continued to evolve it. All his guys got head gigs , because it became vital to winning games
West coast system was like windows or Macintosh pc user friendly software to D.O.S. It made the product so much better it was never gonna go back, it was the new standard
Can't help but feel bad for the guy. He's like any genius, regardless of the form. Never truly happy with any accomplishment and always thinking about what they missed. Whether it's a scientist, a painter, or a business man. They just can never acknowledge they did something great
He was an artist in a way
I miss you Bill. All us Niner fans do. RIP pal.😪
Bill Walsh's Era was the best era of football ever.
Bill Walsh's book, _The Score Takes Care of Itself_ really changed my life. This man was a genius across so many domains of life...an honorable man worthy of emulation.
Jim McNeely just bought it. Taking a new position at another company. Can't wait. I could watch film on the west coast offense for hours and I'm a Broncos fan.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. What really shook me to my core was his discussion of preparation BEFORE a crisis. That's why I have checklists for many of the things in life that are so emotional that the left part of the brain shuts down. Example: The death of one or more of my children.
Massive Broncos fan. Niners hater. But I cannot get past the genius of Bill Walsh. He was one-of-a-kind and that mind of his was a gift to football for all time and beyond Paul Brown be darned.
I'm starting an audio book of this. It's free on the Hoopla app if anyone else is interested.
@@seanmoore9713 Thank you for the heads up, Heading that way now
He was wise beyond his years, a very hard working, dedicated person, in every aspect of his life, the football life. Rest In Peace, respect and admiration from, a 49ers fan. Thank God for Football, indeed.
Goat
@@kicklikelee4961 good coach, but another Bill is the GOAT
@@danbrock1843 nope go look at Walsh track record HD invented Westcoast offense,best draft track record and has best coaching tree head coach. He drafted 2 goat receiver 2 goat quarterback goat safeties and his coaching tree from holmgram to Kyle Shanahan is wayyyyy beyond belicheat draft track record and all his student head coach all was trash. You got to go and look back on his track record and resume
I know his track record. To stay in the SB conversation for 20 years, in the free agency era, is unheard of. Win 6 and be in 9, also ridiculous. And all the great ones will "cheat" for a subtle advantage. Didn't you see that phone thing with ur boy and Parcells. Also, who is the 2nd GOAT receiver? Don't say Clark or Taylor.. He didn't take on the GM role again until 99 so T.O. is out
@@danbrock1843 he is beyond belicheat overall as a head coach/gm. He beat belicheat 2 out of the 3. He overall as a gm drafter while coaching his coaching tree beat Bill. Bill is the beat defense coordinator other than thsy he is trash. Idc Walsh drafted t.o so it does count, and Walsh never cheated to that degree belicheat got caught even later on that how bad he was. Ring dint mean you are the goat. It the whole resume that count and that include as a drafter and how your studented went on and he beat him 2 out of the 3. Them as coordinator is a tie Bill is that good as Walsh was but overall Walsh washes belicheat
Founder of the modern nfl, some of the greats yet so under appreciated ... eagles fan
i am a raiders fan through and through, but bill walsh literally changed the history of the 49ers football team. he was indeed one of the greatest head coaches of all time, and a wonderful human being.
And a former Raider coach.
From his bravery of playing two hof quarterbacks to his humility taking the blame for his team’s shortcomings, Bill Walsh is truly inspiring.
What a shame Brown blackballed such a great coach like that. How sweet and ironic that walsh won 2 of his 3 supers vs cincy and each one was a
heart wrenching loss for the bengals. RIP coach walsh, you were a great coach and a great human being as well and will never be forgotten. You are my most admired coach in any sport of my lifetime.
Yep
@sboudreaux27 Yep I'm sure it was especially if Paul Brown was still alive for them. Biggest mistake in cincy franchise history. They would have won under him just like he did for SF.
@@rawn4203
Bill Walsh would have guided the Bengals to win something but I doubt that would be anything near the successes of the 49ers. Because the 49ers' successes had a lot to do with one man, Eddie Debartolo.
@@benthekeeshond545 Possibly, really would have depended on what kind of role Walsh would have had in drafting players, making trades, cuts etc. Obviously if cincy management isnt smart enough to let walsh be their coach, they probably also arent smart enough to let him make the player selections, or as bill parcells famously said "If I'm going to be asked to cook the meal, I'd like to be able to pick the groceries."
brown was obviously upset that walsh let the bengals.but walsh left because brown didnt give him the head coaching job.i can understand why walsh left.
For Us 49ers fans we will always be grateful to Bill Walsh. He is to us what Vince Lombardi is to the Packers Thank u Bill for building our beloved SF49ers Franchise
52:36 "To get to greatness in life, one has to overcome their weaknesses."
This is why some will always have "more" than others: they have the will to do the overcoming.
"This game is over. . . .everybody's open." IT WAS!
And watching the Broncos defense this season...looks like nothing has changed
@coffeeinthemorning 1988 and 1990 were great games
I was in the Navy, stationed at NAS Moffett Field with VP48. I was aware of the 49ers, but they were just kind of a joke. The 49ers went from being the NFL "Practice Team" to a freight train barrelling down the tracks seemingly overnight. A Football Life has done a great job explaining just how the Walsh Express left the station and picked up all that momentum. Well done indeed.
bill walsh simply a genius
So was Paul Brown,even if he did bad mouth him (bush league move)
A great man, even greater coach, I just wished he could have not been such a perfectionst and enjoyed the fruits of his labor as a football coach. I won't call him a genius because he has said he disliked it, but when it came to intricate detailed football, no one was ever better !
Do you think Nick Saban thinks like that.
A Paul Brown disciple. Mike Shanahan and Mike Holmgren came from his tree and ultimately Andy Reid. What a heritage!
I saw something the past month, and couldn't believe how many head coaches came from the Brown/Walsh sapling.
“Hey, you owe me any money?”
I regret finding all these on RUclips I can’t stop. Awesome. Rabbit hole here I come....
The episode on Tom Landry: "I think I can alternate Staubach and Morton."
The episode on Bill Walsh: "I think I can alternate Montana and Young."
Apparently alternating QBs is the "I have a great idea: let's invade Russia in the wintertime" of NFL coaching.
As Madden always said, "If you have two starting QBs, you really have no starting QB."
The whole invade Russia during winter is just stupid. Operation Barbarossa began on June 22 1941. Definitely not winter.
That was all mind games on their part. No QB at that level wants to share the position. What they were really saying is, "If you want the starting job, you're going to have to fight for it."
except it actually worked with Walsh lol
Insert CleverName,
Invading Russia during wintertime is not a good analogy. The 13th-century Mongol horsemen overran Russia during winter.
As a 49ers fan this was absolutely great to watch, it also confimed a lot of my thoughts about Bill Walsh that I observed from a far, he was a genius and also a very complex man. I always thought of him as the most business like coach to ever walk the sidelines and the way he could dispose of players before their time was up was like the coldest of CEO's they were obviously hurt by it because they loved him and wanted his approval i'm glad many of them were able to make amends before his passing, and it was very touching to see Joe Montana's eulogy to him at the end. Thank you for posting this.
Belichick learned it from him.
Chris Buck Looks like he's right up there with Landry as far as being business-like goes. Landry was just as ruthless when it came to switching out players too
I was born in Nor Cal in 1981. I've been a fan since. I remember being a kid watching the 49ers and thought they were so damn graceful yet badass. That 94/95 team was one of the greatest in NFL history
@@traviscummings9178 well put.
Miss his coaching style and one of the best ever in NFL
REST IN PEACE DWIGHT CLARK
He's with his coach now.. Dwight was another great and classy gentleman as well; truly a legend
I met Dwight Clark on the 10 yrs anniversary of the Catch signing autographed photos at Valley Fair mall in Santa Clara....he was a very nice man
FUCK ALS man
This gentleman you addressed as "Mr. Walsh", every time you make his acquaintance...that is how much respect he commanded and EARNED over the years. Thank you Mr. Walsh for giving us the legacy team of the 49`s and the legacy of your life and fabulous coaching career. With our profound veneration for the man that you are, and for giving us the dynasty of the niners. May your wonderful and heartfelt dedicated soul forever rest in eternal peace in God's eternal kingdom. You are sadly missed and never will be forgotten.
this and the chuck noll episode are my favorites
I love Bill Walsh! One of the all time greats!
Thank you Coach Walsh for the wonderful memories from watching the 49ers play. At times the 49ers were just breathtaking to watch. RIP & God bless a coaching legend Bill Walsh.
Thank you for your time on this Earth bill. This episode was rough to watch without getting teary eyed. Rip Bill and Dwight.
Bill Walsh is the greatest football mind of all-time!
It was such an honor, & a privilege to see this era of 49er football in the City of SF. Legends came out this era of 49er football. I hate that Coach Walsh played Joe, & Steve against each other, but we all still love what he, & Joe Montana achieved for the City of San Francisco. Tom Brady may be the GOAT, but Joe Montana is the one & only original GOAT.
The players are all so funny--Ronnie Lott, and Randy Cross is funny in every interview I see him in...Give him a Football LiFE!!!
The Doctor Johnny Fever reference made this spectacular documentary even more epic.
One of the best football life’s to date. Also makes me realize how cursed my Bengals are to be so close to several championships and never be able to get over the hump. They’ve almost won 3 super bowls and had they given the head coaching job to Walsh back then, they wouldve probably won at least a couple of titles in the 80’s
burrow will get you to the guys one day, i’m absolutely sure
Jesus loves u and died for u
@@Cody-wu5px thanks, i love you
I am a Bengals fan, and after Marvin Lewis got a new contract through 2019, I realize the curse of Paul Brown. Bill Walsh was ahead of his time, and got revenge on his former team twice ('81 and '88). He went on to make the '9ers the '9ers. The Bengals went on to become the Bungles. Now we have a "wanna be'' owner in Mike Brown, who doesn't know the mistakes his father made. Learn the lesson of revenge and "what could have happened"... Good luck to the '49ers...
I'm so sorry man. It's gotta be tough to be a Bengals fan.... Nobody deserves that.
yeah, and even if the bengals get to the super bowl, the niners are there personally to stomp them...Actually, both games were close-but you know what I mean
Kyle Shanahan could become the genis 2.0 version now dat he's found his QB JimmyG... History repeats itself... Jus a thought
Imagine if the Bengals get to the SB just to lose against Mike Zimmer's Vikings.
Now you have Joe Burrow and they are in the AFC championship game.. going to need to draft an Oline next year !
HE was so poetic. . .an innovator of his time. . .Bill Walsh!
The part that really amazes me is how his offense is run step by step literally, and how the specified amount of step should be the window the receivers would be open
48:05 “five minutes into the game, he said this game is over” as a diehard Broncos I knew as soon as the AFC championship game was over and before the NFC championship game started Denver has NO shot!
And considering that the Steelers (an unlikely playoff team that year) gave the Broncos a run for their money the week before…..
Truth. Also a Broncos fan (well, I'm not a fan of sports teams these days, but still). That 89' Niners squad is one of the 3 greatest teams in NFL history. In many other seasons, the Rams would've had a good shot to win it all. The Broncos shouldn't have even bothered showing up.
I remember we always used to joke that the Super Bowl was played in the NFC Championship game in those days
@@eugenedenbrook322
In a way it was kinda good knowing the winner 2 weeks before the game started. You had no expectations of winning and you looked at the game totally relaxed waiting for the full embarrassment to begin.
@@ericrainey7143
Yes, the 1980s and early 90s was dominated by the NFC.
Bengals fan here…..and still love Bill Walsh💯
Mike Holmgren was great in his approach of never biting his tongue. I think, Coach Walsh definitely needed to hear that, definitely. Credit to coach Holmgren💯💯 (about the 41:00 Mark)
Mike Holmgren stole money from the Cleveland Browns.
@@justinedse8435what?
Favre laughing when Andy Reid is getting yelled at is priceless!! 30:57
vintage Brett :)
Favre was quite the character on the field.
I like the double-irony on that one:
--Holmgren: I'll never do that to my coaches. (Cut to Holmgren doing that to his coaches)
--Young: You feel bad seeing your coach get yelled at, so you want to do better. (Cut to Favre laughing at his coach getting yelled at)
prock68 that’s because Reid took the fall for Brett on that one it later came out
He didn’t laugh he was smiling but it was really hard to see that in the video. I had to replay that moment a couple of times. But he wasn’t laughing.
Best episode ever!!
Probably my 10th time watching it..
Kenny Anderson was so underrated the 70s was the decade of the greatest collection of QBs ever
Bill Walsh - Super Genius!
“There is a type of constructive nonviolent tension that is necessary for growth” MLK Jr
holy shit he actually meets Paul Brown in the Superbowl? maybe karma does exists
Paul Brown was the GM at that point, not the coach. Forrest Gregg was the coach of the Bengals that year.
RSM82 doesn’t matter. Still the same. They shafted him for brown and it will forever haunt them,
Right, just pointing out that it wasn't like it was the coach on the other sideline.
not hiring Walsh almost ruins all the great stuff paul brown did for his teams......bengals have been cursed since then
Paul Brown handpicks Bill Johnson to be his successor as the Bengals head coach....interesting bit of trivia.
Bill Walsh truly contributed to the game of Football…NFL 🎯
RIP BW
The episodes of the Football Life are awesome because they discuss the human element of that person in their strengths, weaknesses, joys, and disappointments. I remember the 1982 NFC Championship Game as a child, but I learned how to appreciate it the older I get. That game also represented a change of guard in the NFC that lasted throughout the remaining 1980s when the 49ers ruled the NFL while the Cowboys faded away. The 49ers were the early 21st century Patriots in the way they just knew how to win.
I have both classic jerseys of Montana and Young.
I have them both as well...& SIGNED BY BOTH JOE & STEVE!!
@26:04 "Win The War, then Fight The War." -Sun Tzu
"Finding The Winning Edge" is Bill Walsh's "The Art Of War"
The Sentinel Screaming for Vengence, nice avatar
John Ralston deserves some credit as well. He hired Vermeil and Walsh at Stanford in the 60’s.
Ralston road on the peninsula named after him?
@@arthurkorff no. But he made mistake on Rich Jackson as a first year coach.
Coaching football is more difficult than all other sports combined. That’s why football will always be dominated by the greatest coaches.
Greatest NFL coach in history named the genius.R.I.P
Caden Gushlaw Agreed!!!
Paul Brown. He created four power house teams when he was at the helm. He helped make Massillon a very dominant high school team, then laid the foundation at Ohio State and won a title, then founded the Cleveland Browns and went to ten straight title games winning 7, then founded the Bengals and took them to a super bowl. He's literally won at every level outside of pop warner and has done way more than any coach will do.
Vince Lombardi *
@@osu5inarow paul brown top 3.. but bill belichick is right up there
Vince Lombardi is still the greatest in my opinion.
Paul Brown was a real ***hole towards Walsh. I don't think it was a motivation thing, I think it could have been jealousy, or fear of changing the game, or he just flat out misread Walsh.
This!! Based on the information, I full believe Brown didn't want to be surpassed.
Paul brown ego got the best of him. 49er fans thank Paul brown every day
I think he legitimately dreaded the prospect of having to face a team coached by Walsh
Chris Petrill exactly, he knew he was a brighter successor ahead of his time
As a Browns fan who's read quite a bit about Paul Brown, it's hard not to come away from it thinking two things: 1) He's responsible for a lot of the modern NFL; and 2) He could be a remarkable dick to his players and coaches--I'm not sure that it was jealousy so much as it was once he decided something about a guy (his potential, whether or not he had "crossed" Brown, etc.), he would do anything to make sure the guy stayed in his "place."
This man was a Creator of a new system offense took a team from the dumps and took them to the top winning 3 Superbowls thats not even counting his coaching tree Superbowls and championship games
He was one of those unique coaches like a Sid Gilman or Paul Brown his mentor and Tom Landry just one of those guys that innovated the game and made it end up like it is now when watch on Sunday.Lots of great coaches but only a few who actually changed the game.
Landry had Staubach on the bench for 2 years. And held Staubach back once he played him. He was behind the times.
@Matt Beeman Yes initially Landry was way ahead of the game but he coached past his prime. He cost the Cowboys Superbowls by not recognizing talent, by not wanting to play young players, and his rigid stay within the system plan. Football is like life, shit happens and you improvise. Landry couldn't do that.
Jeffries Crambo Same for Chuck Noll as well. When the 80s rolled around, they were a sedan racing against Ferraris.
Walch was a lot like Landry, but Landry was too loyal to aging veterans, to a fault, but still one of the greatest coaches ever.
Bill Walsh is on the nfl coaching mount rushmore.
Belechick tops him.
David Mazzini tell me the results that Bill Walsh produced to make him better than Belichick.. because results are all that matter.
Perfect Season? sorry i'll be a little more PC ;Cognitively impaired.
You have got to be kidding me right,it's obvious you didn't watch this piece.
David Mazzini yes, other than the Super Bowl. Perfect regular season. I’m not a Patriot fan they have ruined my teams lives.. they are the greatest organization of all time. Belichick and Brady are the best. They don’t have to play another game from here on out to make that any less true.. haters going to hate buddy.
Thank you, coach Walsh. Much love and much respect. "Thank God for football..." Go Niners!!!
It’s very poetic that Walsh faced Paul Brown and the Bengals in the Super Bowl twice and beat them twice.
Brown wasn't the coach
A GREAT role model and once in a lifetime a GREAT coach. We can all be proud of Mr. Walsh and all of his ACCOMPLISHMENTS throughout his years. Thank you Mr. Walsh for the man and coach that you were, and for your tutuledge over the years....
In my mind the GOAT will always be Joe Montana and Bill Walsh! Man the Niners NEVER lost Super Bowls with that group, NEVER!
Did not know he was a protege of Legend Paul Brown! That explains everything!!
Second, I coached some ball and the best coach I worked with preached, "footwork", day and night. In basketball, in soccer, in football.... footwork separates the good from the great.
Anatoly Tarasov, who was the most innovative coach ever in any sport, constantly drilled his CSKA players and later his National team players on the fundamentals of footwork on dryland, as well as on the ice.
I thought you might be interested in that because of your username.
In boxing
Bill Walsh was also a master of spotting talent that no one else knew. I clearly remember in the 1985 draft saying, "Who is Jerry Rice and where is Mississippi Valley State?" I couldn't understandit at this time not know Bill had drafted the greatest football player of all time.
I'll never forget that article in SI about how the Forty Niner scouts, including actor Bradford Dillman of all people, helped find some of the obscure talent that made them one of the best dynasties in the NFL.
Pretty Fantastic!
Watching this got me in tears and im a seahawks fan. RIP bill walsh. legendary coach
Who else wants *Finding the Winning Edge* ?
📖🏈
You can get a new copy at amazon for $199 right now
I would like a copy.
Would love a copy
I bought one when it came out. One of the best books I’ve ever read!
Found a copy at a yard sale for a dollar.
Walsh wrote a book called "The Score Takes Care of Itself: My Philosophy of Leadership".
That is a great book and I highly recommend it.
Bill Walsh's Book Finding the Winning Edge is a Cult Classic as far as books go. I have it, a true Masterpiece. Even if it's shoved on the sports section. I encourage every perspective football coach or fan as myself as a perspective coach to give Finding a Winning Edge, a Good Read, period!!!
Had Walsh not retired, I would have loved to see him coach against the early 90s Cowboys.
Can you imagine? What an alternate universe that would have been
Does any else agree that his daughter has the better resemblance than his son. She looks so much like him.
1 of the best coaches ever, a great football mind.
Finding the Winning Edge
The least expensive on Amazon can be yours for the low, low price of $297.94
The least expensive on Ebay is $339.16
It’s $399.99 on Amazon right now.
thank god for montana, rice and bill walsh
Bill Walsh is a nfl coach legend.he and Bill Parcells of NY Giants has classic battles in the 1980s.
Add Ronnie Lott to the list.
Bill Walsh is such an amazing human being. I don’t know how football people used to think being a man’s man with zero emotion and tough as nails was the only possible way to be a head coach but bill Walsh brought humanity to the sport in that of course you’ll have good days and bad days, ups and downs, but that’s okay. As long as you get your ass back up and make things work, you can have emotions. The way he said you have multiple chances at succeeding in your passion but it feels like you only have one and then you’re deemed as a failure. Even though Bill felt the same way in feeling like a failure even though he did a good job, he never gave up and that’s what’s important.
He was a man's man. He wasn't very emotional. He was stoic as a coach.
The catch had many casualties. It is so sad that Danny White is so forgotten. What a QB vanquished by one play. I'm a Rams fan and that play still hurts.
Best football life intro ever
This guy was obsessed with perfection wow
With the 9ers trading up to #3 to draft a QB, it kinda reminds me of the 'creative tension' that Bill employed.. Hopefully it brings the best out of everybody! Let's go win a Super Bowl for Bill!!
One of the best ever thanks for posting this video 😎🔥
never ever will forget the king coach Bill Walsh
Thank you so much for sharing this precious & insightful Video!!
22:41 Bill also had a knack for picking out players who could take the offense to the next level and so we have JERRY RICE.🏈😎
Bill Walsh was complex but he knew how to motivate his players and at the end of the day thats what a coach does its sad that he was a tortured soul for so long but his genius is still seen in todays NFl
You guys do a great job of honoring people thank you so much for all the hard work you do these are great productions of the ideal of passing on excellence. pax Christi.