Reeves, who died on January 1, was an accomplished NFL coach.
Born on January 19, 1944, in Rome, Georgia, Reeves was a multi-sport high school athlete (football, baseball, and basketball). He broke his collarbone his senior season but still did well enough in football for the University of South Carolina to offer a scholarship. He played there from 1962–1964 and was the starting quarterback during his sophomore year. After his junior and senior years, Reeves was named second-team All-Conference (USC played the Atlantic Coast Conference in those days).
Reeves with the Falcons (photo courtesy Videos Images Information)
Surprisingly, Reeves wasn’t drafted after graduating from college, but he got his shot at the NFL when Tom Landy signed him to play for the Dallas Cowboys. Reeves went on to play eight seasons with the Cowboys as a running back, collecting 1,990 rushing yards, 1,693 receiving yards, and scoring 42 touchdowns.
A Landry protégé, Reeves became the youngest head coach in the NFL in 1981 when he joined the Denver Broncos. Reeves acquired quarterback John Elway in a trade, which would be a great decision. Reeves guided the Broncos to six post-season appearances, five divisional titles, three AFC Championships, and three Super Bowl appearances. Reeves would later be the head coach for other NFL teams, too, including the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons.
I remember watching Super Bowl 33 when Reeves Falcons were taking on his former team of the Denver Broncos and an older John Elway. The Broncos won the game, giving Elway his second Super Bowl ring.
Reeves earned the NFL’s top coaching award in 1998, named NFL Coach of The Year. In 2010, he was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
Dan Reeves, a legend. He’ll be missed.
