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Legendary NFL coach Dan Reeves, who ranks 10th all-time in wins and reached nine Super Bowls as a player and coach, died on Saturday morning at the age of 77.
Reeves’ death was first reported by Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio. His family confirmed his death to NFL Network.
“Legendary NFL player and coach Dan Reeves passed away early this morning, peacefully and surrounded by his loving family at his home in Atlanta, Ga.,” the family’s statement read. “He passed away at age 77 due to complications from a long illness. His legacy will continue through his many friends, players and fans as well as the rest of the NFL community. Arrangements are still to be determined.”
Reeves began his 38-year career in pro football as a hard-nosed Dallas Cowboys running back. He turned that into a 23-year head coaching career with the Denver Broncos, Giants and Atlanta Falcons.
He led the Broncos to three AFC titles and took the Falcons to one NFC Championship, joining his Atlanta players in doing “The Dirty Bird” on stage to celebrate their Super Bowl XXXIII berth in January 1999.
His Broncos lost their first of three Super Bowl during his tenure in January 1987 to Bill Parcells’ Giants, 36-20. Reeves later became the Giants’ head coach and earned his first of two AP Coach of the Year honors in 1993, his first of four seasons in New York.
Reeves (1993-96) and Jim Fassel (1997-2003) coached the Giants consecutively, and now sadly, both have died in the past seven months. Fassel died of a heart attack while under sedation at the age of 71 on June 7, 2021.
Reeves’ 190 career regular season wins are only three behind late Pittsburgh Steelers legend Chuck Noll.
Reeves compiled a 190-165-2 (.535) career head coaching record in 12 seasons leading the Broncos (1981-92), four with the Giants (1993-96) and seven with the Falcons (1997-2003). He was either de facto GM or had personnel power throughout his time in Atlanta, his final stop.
Born in Rome, Ga., Reeves played quarterback in college at South Carolina (1962-64) before playing halfback for the Cowboys for eight seasons (1965-72).
He rushed for 1,990 yards and 25 touchdowns and made 129 catches for 1,693 receiving yards and 17 TDs through the air. Dallas reached two Super Bowls and won its first at Super Bowl VI in January 1972 over the Miami Dolphins.
Reeves began his coaching career as Dallas’ backfield coach in 1975 and served as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator from 1977-80. Dallas reached two more Super Bowls then, winning Super Bowl XII in January 1978 with Reeves calling plays for Roger Staubach.
That day, Dallas beat the Broncos, the team Reeves took over in his first and defining head coaching job in 1981 at age 37. After drafting John Elway out of Stanford in 1983, Reeves’ Broncos went to the Super Bowl three times in four years between 1986-89.
“We’re saddened by the passing of Ring of Fame Head Coach Dan Reeves, who led us to three Super Bowl appearances,” the Broncos said in a statement. “We send our sincerest condolences to his family.”
They were outscored 136-40 in those three Super Bowl losses to the Giants, Washington and San Francisco. But Denver went to the playoffs six times and won five division titles and three AFC Championship games in Reeves’ 12 seasons there.
Reeves had a 110-73-1 (.601) record in Denver, doing the bulk of his winning with the Broncos before going on to lead the Giants (31-33, .484) and Atlanta (49-59-1, .454). He posted an 11-9 all-time playoff record.
That included a 17-10 GIants Wild Card win over the Minnesota Vikings in Reeves’ first season in New York. That snapped a two-season playoff drought during Ray Handley’s bad and brief tenure bridging Parcell’s reign to Reeves’.
The Giants went 11-5 in 1993, with Reeves reinstalling Phil Simms as the starting quarterback. But that was Simms’ and Lawrence Taylor’s final season with the team, and the success didn’t last.
He would guide a Falcons team led by running back Jamal Anderson to the Super Bowl before falling to Denver — and Elway — in Super Bowl XXXIII in January 1999. The “Dirty Bird” was the team’s celebratory dance that caught on during their exciting run.
“Dan Reeves leaves a lasting legacy in our game as a player and coach. 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,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in a statement. “On behalf of the Atlanta Falcons I extend our condolences to Dan’s family and friends as they mourn his passing.”