Bill Walsh's influence went far beyond football, according to Steve Young, the former Brigham Young University great and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback who played for Walsh in the late '80s.

Walsh, who died of leukemia at the age of 75 on Monday in California, not only revolutionized the sport, Young said, but also business in the Northern California area.

"He was the first Silicon Valley icon," Young told the Deseret Morning News on Monday. "He had a different way of doing business."

What meant most to Young, however, was the opportunity Walsh gave him to showcase his skills. "He provided a platform to achieve goals. Without him, I would have been left stranded."

For 15 years, Young said, the San Francisco 49ers' organization was ahead of the curve, trendsetters for the rest of the league. And Walsh had everything to do with that.

"In the '80s and '90s, it (49ers) was unique," Young said. "It was an enlightened place in the NFL. From the way the team traveled to nutrition to tactics on the field, it did things differently. (Walsh) changed football forever."

That approach carried over to Walsh's relationships with his players, Young said. "He (Walsh) looked at players as his partners."

Young related a recent conversation he had with Walsh that underscored the coach's competitive spirit.

"Just a few weeks ago, Bill and I laughed because he told me that he felt bad that we only won three Super Bowl titles," he said.

Walsh will undoubtedly go down as one of football's all-time trailblazers, a fact not lost on Young.

"He was a pioneer in so many ways," he said. "I don't believe his influence on the game can be overstated."

---

E-mail: cpeterson@desnews.com