Dick Nolan, Rest In Peace

Before Ronnie Lott and Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, there was a plucky band of guys in shiny gold pants with names like John Brodie, Gene Washington and Cedrick Hardman. Many don't remember that it wasn't Bill Walsh who put the San Francisco 49ers on the map; it was Dick Nolan. He was the first coach to bring the 49ers any kind of playoff success; and he did it without being overly blessed with talented players. Nolan passed away on Sunday at the age of 75. Forty-Niner team flags at half-staff today. We salute you.

For those wishing to brush up on their Dick Nolan knowledge, there's a good column by Ray Ratto in today's SF Chronicle.

Like Landry, he was spare with his outward emotions, but as an associate architect of the Cowboys' machine, he could not evade notice forever, and was hired in 1968 to pull the 49ers out of their middle-of-the-pack doldrums. It took a couple of listless years, but to his credit, Nolan didn't try to remake the 49ers in his image, or Landry's for that matter. He took what he had, a superb and underappreciated quarterback in John Brodie, surrounded him with pass-catching talents like Gene Washington and Ted Kwalick, and made himself in the 49ers' image instead.

As Ratto points out, Nolan's office was only a few blocks from the Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco; an amusing notion when one considers the times and the coach's buttoned-down personality. And hey, don't forget that Steve Spurrier was on his team as well; he was Brodie's backup. Can you picture Steve on the magic bus?

Of course his son, Mike Nolan, wasn't going through the best of times this season as it was. Our condolences, best wishes, and thanks that the legacy lives on.

Dick Nolan Recognized What He Had And Knew How To Use It [SFGate]