NFL Coach Dan Reeves, Made 9 Trips To Super Bowl, Dies At 77

ATLANTA, GA — Dan Reeves, who coached the Denver Broncos to three Super Bowls in the 1980s and went on to lead the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons during a 23-year NFL coaching career, has died, according to reports. He was 77 years old.

Reeves died early Saturday at his home in Atlanta due to complications from a lengthy illness, his family said in a statement to the NFL Network.

Reeves, who was a running back for the Dallas Cowboys and served as an assistant coach under the legendary Tom Landry from 1970-1980 in Dallas, coached the Broncos from 1981-1992 and compiled a record of 110-73-1 with three AFC championships during his tenure. The Broncos reached the Super Bowl in 1986, 1987 and 1989, but lost in all three trips. He later took Atlanta to the Super Bowl.

In all, he made nine trips to the Super Bowl as a player, assistant coach and head coach.

He was inducted into the Broncos' Ring of Fame in 2014, after finishing his coaching career with a record of 190-165-2 in the regular season and 20-11 in the playoffs, the Denver Post reported. Reeves is ninth all-time in regular-season victories.

"One of the winningest coaches in NFL history, Coach Reeves set the foundation for the Broncos' decade of dominance in the 1980s and championship tradition for years to come," the Broncos organization said in a statement.

Reeves was "instrumental in the franchise becoming a perennial contender," the statement said, and "coached the Broncos with integrity, character and toughness along with sincere appreciation for his players and coaches. His time with the Broncos was part of a remarkable 39-year career in professional football in which he appeared in the Super Bowl an astonishing nine times as a player or coach."

One of the winningest coaches in NFL history, Coach Reeves set the foundation for the Broncos’ decade of dominance in the 1980s and championship tradition for years to come.

A statement from the Broncos on the passing of Dan Reeves: pic.twitter.com/gHcnqLqppq
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 1, 2022

Reeves was hired by the Giants in 1993 after being fired in Denver following an 8-8 season where the Broncos lost five of their last six games. He was fired by New York following the 1996 season and then hired shortly afterward by Atlanta, where he finished out his career, including leading the Falcons to their first Super Bowl in 1998.

"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, according to a report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "On behalf of the Atlanta Falcons I extend our condolences to Dan’s family and friends as they mourn his passing."

He was a running back for Dallas for eight seasons, going to two Super Bowls, including the 1971 Super Bowl VI championship team, NFL.com reported. He was part of three Super Bowl trips as an assistant coach in Dallas before he took over the Broncos in 1981.

Reeves is survived by his wife and high school sweetheart, Pam, three children, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.