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Posted at 12:03 p.m., Thursday, November 1, 2007

NFL: Super Bowl will honor late Walsh

Advertiser Staff

The NFL will honor the legacy of coaching legend Bill Walsh during Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3, the NFL has announced.

Walsh's son, Craig Walsh, along with former San Francisco 49ers captains Ronnie Lott, Jerry Rice and Steve Young, who all starred under Walsh, will participate in the coin toss ceremony prior to kickoff at University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona. 

Walsh, who died on July 30 of this year, was one of the most influential figures in NFL history.  He revolutionized the game with his "West Coast Offense" and led the 49ers to three Super Bowl titles.

Walsh also is remembered for helping the league on many important initiatives, from improving opportunities for minorities in coaching and the front office to its executive training and international development programs.

The coin toss, followed by the game, will be televised live by FOX.

Watched by nearly 140 million viewers in the U.S. last year, the Super Bowl is annually the nation's most-watched TV program.

The game will be broadcast worldwide in more than 230 countries and territories, including for the first time by the BBC in the UK.