Faithful Flashbacks #74: Bill Walsh wins his first Coach of the Year Award

Faithful Flashbacks #74: Legendary 49ers head coach Bill Walsh winning Coach of the Year is 1981 was a signal that times were changing in their favor.

BY BRENDEN NUNES

May 27, 2026, 9:13 AM

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In honor of the San Francisco 49ers celebrating their 80th anniversary, Sactown Sports is kicking off a countdown of the 80 greatest moments in the franchise’s illustrious history in reverse order called “Faithful Flashbacks.”

From Super Bowl-winning plays to overperforming teams that had minimal expectations, there’s plenty to choose from the team with five titles under its belt.

The voting was conducted by a handful of the Sactown Sports’ staffers before results were compiled into a full list that will countdown to the 49ers’ 2026 NFL regular season debut against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on September 10th.

Faithful Flashbacks -- San Francisco 49ers 80 Best Moments

Bill Walsh is one of the most legendary figures in the history of the San Francisco 49ers. After joining the team as its head coach in 1979, after previously being at Stanford, he faced early struggles taking over the team.

In 1979, Walsh’s first season, they ended 2-14. Next season, they improved to 6-10, which at least signified progress. To say that it continued that upward trajectory in 1981 is probably an understatement.

The 49ers went 13-3, won the NFC West, and reached the postseason for the first time in nearly a decade. Led by Walsh, it was also quarterback Joe Montana becoming a more obvious face of the offense. That season featured Dwight Clark making one of the most famous plays in NFL history — maybe it’ll appear again later in our countdown.

Walsh was recognized for his regular-season excellence with the Coach of the Year award, but that team went on to win the franchise’s first Super Bowl title. It was the beginning of an era that is still a primary reason San Francisco is talked about as one of the more prestigious teams in the league.

Two more Super Bowls (three total) and another Coach of the Year award in 1984 cemented his legacy in Northern California.

Walsh’s 1981 Coach of the Year award made our “Faithful Flashbacks” list at No. 74 because it signified the beginning of what ended up being the best era of football the 49ers had up until that point. The 49ers even named their team MVP award after Walsh, a fitting tribute to the coach who helped raise the standard.

Upcoming San Francisco 49ers Schedule

June 9-10, 2026 – Mandatory Minicamps
Late July 2026 – NFL Training Camps open
Thursday, September 10th – vs. Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia (Season Opener) – 5:35 pm PT
Sunday, September 20th – vs. Miami Dolphins – 1:25 pm PT
Sunday, September 27th – vs. Arizona Cardinals – 1:05 pm PT
Sunday, October 4th – vs. Denver Broncos – 1:25 pm PT

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