Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren got his start in professional football under Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh. On Monday, when he received the news his mentor had passed away, Holmgren said he was relieved for Walsh.
Walsh had battled leukemia for more than a year before he succumbed to the disease. Holmgren likened it to when he lost his mother two years ago after a lengthy illness.
Holmgren was in a meeting with his coaching staff after the morning practice when Walsh's son Craig called to relay the news. Shortly after that, Holmgren and members of his coaching staff who worked or played for Walsh talked about the coaching giant.
"I was not in his group of close friends," Holmgren said. "He had his close friends, like the Mike Whites and such, guys who were his guys. But I did work for him, and we had a professional relationship that later turned into what I think was a friendship. It makes you think about all the times, and you laugh about some stuff, you get mad about some stuff. … But really, the feeling was a little like my mom, the sense of relief because he's been battling this for a year. He fought the good fight, and now it's done."
Holmgren said he planned to write something for a program that will be distributed at Walsh's funeral. He also hopes to attend services for Walsh but hasn't received any information on when they would be held.
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