As a die hard fan of the 49ers franchise for over two decades, today was a very melancholic morning for me when I woke up and read that Bill Walsh had passed away just hours earlier.

The 49er legend revolutionized the sport of football with his west coast offense, and led the way for three of the franchise’s four Superbowl titles in the 1980′s.

You will be missed Mr. Walsh. My condolences go out to the Walsh family and everyone close to him. Rest in Peace.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bill Walsh, the groundbreaking football coach who won three Super Bowls and perfected the ingenious schemes that became known as the West Coast offense during a Hall of Fame career with the San Francisco 49ers, has died. He was 75.

Walsh died early today following a long battle with leukemia, according to Stanford University, where he served as coach and athletic director.

Walsh didn’t become an NFL head coach until 47, and he spent just 10 seasons on the San Francisco sideline. But he left an indelible mark on the United States’ most popular sport, building the once-woebegone 49ers into the most successful team of the 1980s with his innovative offensive strategies and teaching techniques.