Mike Ditka’ Bears competed with Walsh for NFC superiority during the ’80s. Ditka was thoroughly old school, while Walsh had his own way. Ditka believed in beating on and beating up opponents, while Walsh was the finesse coach. At the time, Ditka would refer to the 49ers as a group of effete players and coaches who believed they were football royalty. He hated to give Walsh his due and would mockingly refer to him as “the GENIUS” whenever the Bears and 49ers were scheduled to meet.

As the years passed, Ditka recognized Walsh as a great coach and the two became friends. “He was a great coach and a great man,” Ditka said “We were competitors and going up against Walsh was as much a test as any coach could have. They whipped us a lot more than we beat them and he deserves the credit.”

Walsh’s first championship came against the Cincinnati Bengals who were coached by former Packers offensive lineman Forrest Gregg. Those Bengals also relied on pounded the opposition into submission and then have pinpoint quarterback Ken Anderson target his fine receivers. While the Niners had Montana and Clark, their running game was in the hands of the forgettable foursome of Ricky Patton, Earl Cooper, Johnny Davis and Bill Ring. Patton led the group with 543 yards and the Niners averaged 3.5 yards per carry. Opponents ran for 4.1 yards per attempt, a seemingly incongruous differential for a championship team.

But Walsh knew that football was no longer about Vince Lombardi’s power sweep or three yards and a cloud of dust. He wanted to build a lead with the passing game, take away the opponent’s passing game and then protect the lead by scoring more. Running the ball was important in the fourth quarter and in short-yardage situations, but it was the passing game that determined who was going to rule professional football.

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It was a lesson that Walsh’s students and adversaries eventually learned. The principles of his passing game are still winning games today even if the West Coast offense has been altered over the years.

The Mount Rushmore of NFL coaches should includes Walsh, Lombardi, Landry and Don Shula — and perhaps its Walsh who should have the first position.