Dan Reeves

Dan Reeves (January 19, 1944 - ) is a former NFL player and head coach who holds the record for most Super Bowl appearances as a player or a coach with 9.

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January 19 - 1944

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Born in Americus, Georgia, Reeves attended school at the University of South Carolina, where he played quarterback. He was later inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1988. In 1965, Reeves was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys to play fullback. Over eight seasons with the team, Reeves collected 1990 rushing yards and 1693 passing yards. His best year came in 1966, when he rushed for seven touchdowns, good for second in the fledgling league, and played extremely well in the Cowboys' losing effort in the Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers in the notorious "Ice Bowl". The Cowboys made the playoffs every year of Reeves's playing days, reaching the Super Bowl twice and culminating in a 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins in 1971.

Related Topics:
Americus, Georgia - University of South Carolina - Quarterback - Dallas Cowboys - Green Bay Packers - Ice Bowl

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Worn down by multiple injuries, Reeves began serving on the sidelines as a player/coach in 1970 and after his full retirement in 1972 he took a job on the team as the running backs coach. After leaving the sport for a business position in 1973, he returned to the Cowboys again in 1974 as running backs coach, and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 1977. The Cowboys made 3 more Super Bowls during Reeves' tenure as an assistant coach, earning him another ring in 1977 with a win over the Denver Broncos.

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In 1981, the 37 year old Reeves was made head coach and Vice President of the Denver Broncos, making him at the time the youngest coach in the league. Over the next 12 years, Reeves led the Broncos to a 104-62-1 record, 6 playoff appearances, and three Super Bowls. Unfortunately, Reeves was never able to win the big game with the Broncos.

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In 1993, Reeves took over as head coach of the floundering New York Giants. In his first season at the helm, the Giants went 11-5 and made the playoffs for the first time in three years, giving the fans and team hope that Reeves was the answer to the team's troubles. For his efforts, Reeves was named Coach of the Year by the Associated Press. However, Reeves could not duplicate his success, and was fired at the end of the 1996 season, leaving behind a 31-33 record with the Giants.

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In 1996, Reeves took on his biggest challenge yet by accepting the head coaching job of the Atlanta Falcons. The year before the Falcons had gone 3-13, and they had done little to improve their personnel. Yet by 1998, Reeves led the team to a 14-2 record and his record 9th Super Bowl appearance on the sidelines. That year was particularly tumultuous for Reeves, who underwent emergency bypass surgery midway through the season. Although the team lost in a close match against Reeves' old team the Denver Broncos, Reeves was widely hailed for the team's turnaround, and was again awarded the Coach of the Year honor. Again, however, Reeves failed to maintain the level of excellence he had attained early in his post, and he was fired mid-way through the 2004 season.

Related Topics:
Atlanta Falcons - Denver Broncos - Coach of the Year

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Reeves' career coaching record is 201-174-2, including an 11-9 record in the playoffs. Today Reeves serves as a spokesperson for Zocor, a heart medicine.

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