Legendary NFL coach and player Dan Reeves died at 77. | Facebook
Legendary NFL coach and player Dan Reeves died at 77. | Facebook
One of the NFL’s most legendary coaches, Dan Reeves, died at his home in Atlanta on Jan. 1 at the age of 77, according to a report by ESPN.
The New York Times reported that the Reeves family made a statement saying he died of complications from dementia.
Reeves is one of only 10 coaches to win 190 regular-season games in his career, including the postseason where he was 201-174-2. Reeves was in nine Super Bowls as a player, head coach and assistant coach, a number which is only bested by Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick and Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.
“Dan Reeves leaves a lasting legacy in our game as a player and coach,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in a statement. “His track record of success in Dallas, Denver, New York and Atlanta over several decades speaks for itself, marking a long and successful life and career in football.”
Reeves spent 39 total years in the NFL beginning in 1965 where he played running back for eight seasons for the Tom Landry-coached squad. He had a 50-yard touchdown pass to Lance Rentzel in the famous Ice Bowl on a halfback pass, which was the longest pass play of the game, according to ESPN.
According to Pro Football Reference his best season was 1966 where he rushed for 757 yards and scored eight touchdowns at a 4.3 yard per carry clip. He played in two Super Bowls, including one with the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl VI where he was victorious as a player/coach.
As a head coach Reeves won 10 or more games nine times. He also won 12 or more games three times and won the Coach of the Year Award in 1993 with the Denver Broncos and 1998 with the Atlanta Falcons.
As a head coach, Reeves led the Broncos to three Super Bowls in four years with John Elway as his quarterback in the 1980s. Then he took the Falcons to a Super Bowl in 1998. However, the "big game" win was elusive as Reeves lost all four times he was at the helm.
He also coached four seasons with the New York Giants, going 11-5 in his best season there. ESPN reported that Reeves is also remembered as the man who brought star quarterback Michael Vick to the Falcons. Reeves finished his seven seasons with the Atlanta Falcons in 2003.
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