"Jim Harbaugh is making good on his wish to follow in the footsteps of Bill Walsh.

Harbaugh on Saturday became the first 49ers coach since Walsh in 1981 to win the Coach of the Year award given by the Associated Press. Like Walsh three decades ago, Harbaugh took a team that finished 6-10 the previous year to a 13-3 record and the NFC Championship Game.

Upon being hired last year, Harbaugh said he long admired Walsh, who like Harbaugh coached at Stanford before being hired by the 49ers. Harbaugh spent six months learning from Walsh before Walsh's death in 2007.

"Everything that came out of his mind, his heart, his mouth – I hung on every single word," Harbaugh said upon being hired.

Walsh's 1981 team won the NFC championship and Super Bowl XVI. Harbaugh's 49ers fell short, losing to the New York Giants in overtime in the NFC title game."