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Another thing I realize is how similarly Landry and Walsh were, even in death.

Both were genuises in their respective fields. Landry with his Flex defense and Walsh with his WCO.

Both took over teams that were unheralded. DALLAS was an expansion team when landry arrived in 1960, and San Francisco had been a poor team for years when Walsh arrived in 1980.

Landry made it to 5 Super Bowls, and won 2. Walsh went to 3 and won all 3. Both had many assistants that moved on into the head coaching ranks and established their own success. Both had a profound impact on the game of professional football.

Both coaches were men that commanded respect yet were unpretentious. They were not loud and arrogant. They handled difficult losses with class. More revealing, they won with class and almost humbleness. They never sought the limelight and made it a habit to divert attention to the team.

Both contracted leukemia and maintained a private, quiet dignity in their slide toward death.

Both men were 75 when they died. Landry in 2000, and Walsh today.