record in 1988. The first thing Jerry Jones did after purchasing the Cowboys on February 25, 1989, was fire Landry. His career record was 270-178-6 at the end. Dan Reeves, who played for the Dallas Cowboys and won a Super Bowl, passed away on Saturday. He was most known for his lengthy coaching career, which included four championship-game blowout losses to the Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons. He was 77.
Reeves passed away from dementia-related problems, according to a statement issued by his family via former Falcons media relations director Aaron Salkin. He passed away “peacefully and surrounded by his loving family at his home in Atlanta,” according to the statement.
The family noted, “His legacy will live on via his numerous friends, players, and fans, as well as the rest of the NFL community.”
Although Reeves was a dynamic player who helped the Cowboys under Tom Landry become an NFL powerhouse in the 1960s, it was during his 23-year tenure as a coach over three different teams that he really made his imprint on the league.
With 190 coaching victories, including time spent with the New York Giants, Reeves holds the ninth-most record in NFL history. He lost every Super Bowl by double digits, though, and he was never able to win the biggest game of them.
Only Reeves, Marv Levy, and Bud Grant have suffered four Super Bowl losses.
Dan Reeves, who was fired by the Falcons in 2003, “leaves a lasting impact on our game as a player and coach,” stated owner Arthur Blank. “His decades-long record of success in Dallas, Denver, New York, and Atlanta attests to his lengthy and prosperous life and football career.”
Reeves was just 37 years old when he took over as the Broncos’ coach in 1981. Through trade, he obtained quarterback John Elway, and throughout the course of his 12-year coaching career, he assembled a club that appeared in three Super Bowls, made six postseason visits, and won five AFC West titles.
Under Reeves, Denver never won an NFL championship, falling to the Giants 39-20 in the 1987 Super Bowl, Washington 42-10 in 1988, and the San Francisco 49ers 55-10 in 1990, which remains the most lopsided defeat in the history of the team.
In spite of those setbacks and a painful split following the 1992 campaign, Reeves is still held in high regard in Denver, where the Broncos honored him with induction into their Ring of Honor in 2014.
The team released a statement saying, “Coach Reeves laid the groundwork for the Broncos’ championship tradition for years to come and their decade of dominance in the 1980s.” “With true gratitude for his players and coaches, Reeves led the Broncos with toughness, integrity, and character.”
Reeves was fired by the Broncos following a falling out with Elway and accusations that the star quarterback had conspired with Mike Shanahan, the eventual head coach, and the offensive coordinator at the time to compel a change.
When he took over the Giants in 1993, he made his sole postseason trip to New York, leading the team to the playoffs in his first season. After being fired after four seasons, he made a swift comeback with the Falcons in 1997, which seemed like a homecoming for the native Georgian.
Reeves led the “Dirty Birds,” a team with a 14-2 regular season record and their first Super Bowl appearance, in just his second season with a franchise that had seen little success.
Following Reeves’ emergency cardiac surgery, the Falcons defeated the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings in a thrilling overtime game at the Metrodome to win the NFC championship. This led the team’s coach, Jamal Anderson, to try the arm-flapping dance that had become the team’s signature.
“My partner!” Anderson posted a tweet. I will miss DR, who was an amazing coach and a first-class person. My sympathies and thoughts are with his family, including his wife, Pam. a man first and foremost, family. With love and respect, Coach Reeves, RIP!”
