Walsh's top regret: not drafting Singletary

BETTERDAYZ9ERS · 2009-09-23T14:22:00-07:00

Thought this was interesting- Ernest pointed out via Facebook a 2003 fan Q&A in which Bill Walsh said he regretted trading a draft choice the 49ers could have used on Mike Singletary. I'll include the pertinent portion here: Singletary Wyn Morgan, Wales: Bill, as a fan of the Niners since '83 some 6,000 miles away from San Francisco in Wales, I have the following question for you: Looking back from the time you took the Niner coaching job in '79, if you were able to go back in time and do one thing differently -- it could be a play call in a game, a personnel move or whatever -- what would the one thing you'd do differently be? Bill Walsh: We had an opportunity to draft Mike Singletary. We traded that choice to the Chicago Bears, who then drafted Mike Singletary, who became a Hall of Fame football player -- one of the great linebackers of all-time. So, he was there for our bidding. But, on the other hand, with that trade, we drafted two outstanding players -- Michael Carter and Jeff Fuller -- who were Super Bowl champions. But, I do wish -- as I look back -- that Mike Singletary would have been a part of the 49er organization. The last part of that response from Walsh jumps out. Singletary was entering his first season as an NFL assistant coach -- with the Ravens, not the 49ers -- when Walsh made the statement. Walsh presumably wasn't referring to anything Singletary might accomplish in coaching, although Singletary did seek out Walsh for pointers and the two developed a bond. It's interesting to me that Walsh would point to the decision against drafting Singletary as his single biggest regret during his 49ers tenure. Of course, there weren't many regrets from which to choose. Walsh made the right moves most of the time. http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/5592/walshs-top-regret-not-drafting-singletary The irony of it all

Sep 23, 2009 at 2:25 PM

zozell
Veteran
Posts: 2,961

Wow...

Ain't that some s**t... very interesting... it's like he knew!

Sep 23, 2009 at 2:28 PM

Mex49
Member
Posts: 2,979

Jeff Fuller, what a stud he was going to be. He used to come by my work all the time, and to see his arm start shrinking. f**k that is sad

Sep 23, 2009 at 2:29 PM

BETTERDAYZ9ERS
Veteran
Posts: 3,078

Originally posted by zozell:
Wow... Ain't that some s**t... very interesting... it's like he knew!

It just seems like a perfect fit now.

Sep 23, 2009 at 2:30 PM

StOnEy333
Hall of Fame
Posts: 99,664

Very interesting, indeed. I thought he might say retiring too early, which I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking.

Sep 23, 2009 at 2:32 PM

BETTERDAYZ9ERS
Veteran
Posts: 3,078

Originally posted by StOnEy333:
Very interesting, indeed. I thought he might say retiring too early, which I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking.

Would have been my answer

Sep 23, 2009 at 2:49 PM

WINiner
Veteran
Posts: 15,907

Originally posted by BETTERDAYZ9ERS:
Originally posted by StOnEy333:
Very interesting, indeed. I thought he might say retiring too early, which I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking.

Would have been my answer

Same

Sep 23, 2009 at 2:53 PM

kronik
Veteran
Posts: 4,316

Michael Carter was a true monster tho. I think he is our 2nd best DT ever (behind Bryant Young of course).

Sep 23, 2009 at 2:54 PM

WildBill
Veteran
Posts: 6,208

Interesting bit of history, I did not know that! Still Carter and Fuller were more integral and fuller if not for that injury would have lots of probowls.

I thought it would be his first draft where he took UCLA's owens if I recall the name correctly.?

Sep 23, 2009 at 2:57 PM

SonocoNinerFan
Veteran
Posts: 17,610

You learn something new every day. I had no clue that Sing was drafted with a pick we traded to the Bears.

Interesting connection.

Sep 23, 2009 at 3:06 PM

#10

tohara3
Veteran
Posts: 30,687

Wow that is interesting. Glad he is part of the 49ers now.

Sep 23, 2009 at 3:14 PM

#11

BHulman
Veteran
Posts: 4,338

In 1980 the Niners could have had Anthony Munoz. They traded the pick for what turned out to be Earl Cooper and Jim Stucky. I got to believe that Walsh ended up regretting that.

Sep 23, 2009 at 3:14 PM

#12

Joecool
Veteran
Posts: 70,984

His top regret should have been trading Joe Montana.

His second should have been hiring Donahue unless it was sabatoge.

Sep 23, 2009 at 3:33 PM

#13

SonocoNinerFan
Veteran
Posts: 17,610

Originally posted by Joecool:
His top regret should have been trading Joe Montana.

His second should have been hiring Donahue unless it was sabatoge.

He wasn't part of the Organizaation when Montana got shipped.

Sep 23, 2009 at 3:36 PM

#14

HaiGuise
Veteran
Posts: 17,874

I would have left it alone. Drafting Singletary probably would have altered history. I'd gladly take the 5 Superbowl wins during the great dynasty days over drafting Singletary.