The Bill Walsh coaching tree has produced many successful NFL coaches.
Mike Holmgren, Jim Fassel, George Seifert, Dennis Green and Brian Billick are just a few of the men who learned under the late coach who turned the San Francisco 49ers into a 1980s and 1990s Super Bowl-winning dynasty.
Recommended Stories
Billick will return to San Francisco for the first time as ahead coach Sunday afternoon at 4:15 when his team plays the 49ers at Monster Park.
“I was going on the other day – it?s been 10 years since I?ve been back there,” Billick said. “In 1997, I went out there when I was with the Vikings. That?s the last time I was in Candlestick. And that?s how old I am; it was Candlestick when I was there. It will always be Candlestick to me. So it?s been awhile. For me it?ll be kind of neat to go back, but it?s been a long time.”
Billick served as assistant director of public relations for the 49ers in 1979 and 1980 before embarking on his coaching career. He later paired with Walsh to write the book, “Finding the Winning Edge,” in 1998. The book was released during Billick?s final year as the Minnesota Vikings? offensive coordinator before he was hired to coach the Ravens.
When Walsh died July 30, Billick was one of the first to comment on Walsh?s legacy. On Tuesday, he spoke highly of the coaching legend again.
“It?s well-documented the impact he had on me and everything I do,” he said, “everything this league does, quite frankly.”
NINERS BY THE NUMBERS: The Ravens last faced San Francisco in 2003, beating the 49ers, 44-6, at M&T Bank Stadium. Four years later, both teams enter Sunday?s game a disappointing 2-2 this season. Each was expected to win their respective divisions, but San Francisco is a game behind the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC North, and the Ravens trail the Steelers by a game in the AFC North.
49ers running back Frank Gore has 254 yards and three touchdowns, and could be relied on more this week with starting quarterback Alex Smith out with a separated shoulder. Former Maryland standout Vernon Davis will miss the game with a sprained right medial collateral ligament.
“We?ve got our work cut out for us, no question,” 49ers Coach Mike Nolan told San Francisco reporters Monday. “The defense and the special teams need to continue to do well like they?re doing, and even get better. And our offense needs to get better, obviously.”
