Dan Reeves

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Reeves made his first two Super Bowl appearances during his playing career, winning one in Super Bowl VI. He began his coaching career in 1972 as an assistant for the Cowboys, where he made three championship appearances and was part of the staff that won Super Bowl XII. As the head coach of the Broncos for 12 seasons, Reeves led the team to three championship appearances in Super Bowl XXI, Super Bowl XXII, and Super Bowl XXIV, each of which ended in defeat. He spent his next four seasons as the head coach of the Giants, winning NFL Coach of the Year in 1993 after bringing the team to the playoffs that season, although they would not qualify again under him. In his final seven seasons, Reeves was the head coach of the Falcons. His most successful season with the Falcons was in 1998 when he led them to their championship debut in Super Bowl XXXIII, in which he was defeated by his former team, the Broncos. He also won NFL Coach of the Year a second time, making him the ninth coach to win the award multiple times and the first Falcons coach to receive it. For his accomplishments in Denver, Reeves was inducted to the Broncos Ring of Fame in 2014.

In Their Own Story

In December 1998, Dan Reeves faced a critical test both professionally and personally. After leading the Falcons to an impressive 12–2 record, he was hospitalized for quadruple-bypass heart surgery, missing the final two regular-season games. His return three weeks later to lead the team against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game showcased his resilience. The victory sent Atlanta to Super Bowl XXXIII, where the atmosphere was heavy with history. Reeves stood on the sidelines of the game that would pit his Falcons against his former team, the Denver Broncos, who were now coached by Mike Shanahan and led by John Elway. Although the Falcons fell 34–19, the journey from a 3–13 season to the Super Bowl in just two years defined his tenure. The loss was painful, but the achievement of reaching Atlanta's first championship game remains the pinnacle of franchise history.

Reader's Guide

One of only 13 NFL head coaches to win 200 career games, Reeves has the most playoff wins (11, tied with Marv Levy) and Super Bowl appearances (four, tied with Levy and Bud Grant) among NFL head coaches to not win a championship. He is also tied with Jeff Fisher and Bill Belichick for the most regular season losses in NFL history at 165. Reeves, Belichick, and Marty Schottenheimer are the only eligible NFL head coaches with 200 career wins who have not been inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Did You Know?

• Reeves is tied with Jeff Fisher and Bill Belichick for the most regular season losses in NFL history at 165.