Legendary CFL coach and GM Cal Murphy passes away; Twitter tributes show his impact

It's been a sad week for the CFL, with the loss of several prominent alumni: league single-season interception leader Al Brenner, 1990 Grey Cup most outstanding Canadian Warren Hudson and now legendary coach and general manager Cal Murphy. Murphy won nine Grey Cups in various roles over the years, is tenth on the all-time coaching win list and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2004 in recognition for his stellar accomplishments. TSN's Chris Cuthbert reported Saturday that Murphy passed away, and the incredible response to the news from everyone from coaches like Mike Kelly to media types like Cuthbert and Peter James to fans demonstrated just how much he meant to the CFL and the other leagues he was involved with, and the unique ways in which he touched people's lives. Here are some of the best Twitter tributes to Murphy from those groups:

And here's a player's reaction from CFL offensive lineman Rob Murphy (no relation), including a terrific story:

Murphy's career highlights are worth plenty of attention themselves, of course. After a short CFL playing career, he got into coaching in the B.C. high school ranks with Vancouver college, then headed to the NCAA with Eastern Washington, Hawaii and San Jose State. He returned north of the border in 1974 as an assistant coach with the B.C. Lions, went on to serve as head coach in B.C., Winnipeg and Saskatchewan, and was a a part of nine different Grey Cup-winning teams. He earned his first Grey Cup ring as a Montreal assistant in the 1970s, then picked up five more with Edmonton's dynasty in the 1970s and 1980s. It was in his home town of Winnipeg where Murphy really made his mark, though, coaching the Bombers to the 1984 Grey Cup and then serving as general manager when they won again in 1988 and 1990 (the last time they've lifted the trophy).

Murphy proved able to excel in whatever role he was given, and his passion for football of all kinds was clear; after finishing his CFL head coaching days with Saskatchewan in 1999, he headed to NFL Europe to coach the Frankfurt Galaxy in 2000 (where Rob Murphy's story comes from) and was involved with a wide variety of football teams since then, including serving as a part-time scout for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts recently. What's really remarkable about Murphy's life is how he touched so many people in different ways, and how he was successful across eras and leagues. He'll be missed.