The great coach Bill Walsh has died at 75 years old after a long fight with leukemia.  Espn.com has more, Bill Walsh dies at 75; led 49ers to three Super Bowl titles:

SAN FRANCISCO — Bill Walsh changed the look of the NFL with his offensive innovations and legion of coaching disciples, breaking new ground and winning three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers in the process.

Nicknamed “The Genius” for his creative schemes that became known as the West Coast offense, Walsh died at his Woodside home Monday morning following a long battle with leukemia. He was 75.

Bill Walsh innovated the game he loved by being a revolutionary that brought the style of play now known as the West Coast Offense to the NFL.  There haven’t been too many great coaches like Coach Walsh in football; Walsh, Vince Lombardi, Joe Paterno, and Joe Gibbs would comprise my top foursome.  At the end of the day, the on field accomplishments don’t end up meaning a whole lot other than to sentimental fans.  The real achievement is to be respected, loved, and missed by those you coached and mentored; the ones who knew you outside of the game. 

“This is just a tremendous loss for all of us, especially to the Bay Area because of what he meant to the 49ers,” said the 49ers’ Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana. “Outside of my dad he was probably the most influential person in my life. I am going to miss him.”

That probably sums up his legacy right there, one of the greatest hall of fame quarterbacks of all time speaking about one of the greatest hall of fame coaches of all time.  Coach Walsh’s contributions to the game of football on and off the field will be dearly missed.