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sports Dialuna 3 Januari 2022

Former Broncos, Falcons, Giants coach Dan Reeves dies at 77

(AP) — Dan Reeves’ tal-
ents off the field were rec- But Denver never won it all
ognized early on by Tom under Reeves, losing 39-20 to
Landry. the Giants in the 1987 Super
Bowl, 42-10 to Washington
Reeves was still suiting up for in 1988, and 55-10 to the San
the Dallas Cowboys when Francisco 49ers in 1990 —
Landry made him a player- still the most lopsided loss in
coach. the game’s history.

At 37, Reeves landed his first Despite those defeats and a
head coaching job, pulled off bitter parting after the 1992
a trade to acquire John Elway, season, Reeves is remem-
and built the Denver Bron- bered fondly in Denver,
cos into a powerhouse that where the Broncos inducted
reached the Super Bowl three him into their Ring of Honor
times in a four-year span. in 2014.

At the final stop of nearly “Coach Reeves set the foun-
four uninterrupted decades dation for the Broncos’ de-
in the NFL, Reeves guided cade of dominance in the
the Atlanta Falcons to their 1980s and championship tra-
first Super Bowl. dition for years to come,” the
team said in a statement.
The only blemish on his re-
cord: four blowout losses in Reeves’ relationship with
the big game. Elway deteriorated over the
quarterback’s desire to open
Reeves, who did win a ring up the offense. Believing that
as a player with the Cow- Elway and then-offensive
boys but will be remembered coordinator Mike Shana-
mostly for a long, largely han were working together
successful coaching career to undermine his authority, ship, prompting the coach treated during their four known for his gruff, no-non-
marred by those four defeats, Reeves fired Shanahan for in- to attempt the arm-flapping years together in New York. sense approach and an offen-
died Saturday of complica- subordination after the 1991 dance star running back Ja- sive philosophy that favored
tions from dementia. He was season. mal Anderson and other “He taught us how to be a physical running game. But
77. players had made the team’s men,” Hampton said in a he had plenty of success with
That only worsened the rela- trademark. story on the team’s website. two of the game’s most dy-
A statement released by his tionship with Elway, leading ” When I first got there, we namic offensive players, Vick
family through former Fal- to Reeves’ firing a year later. “My guy!” Anderson wrote used to always stay at ho- and Elway, defying those who
cons media relations direc- on Twitter. “I am going to tels (the night before home labeled him as old-fashioned
tor Aaron Salkin said Reeves Reeves’ supporters have miss DR, a first class human, games). He told us, ‘You’re and out of touch.
died “peacefully and sur- pushed for him to be induct- and a most excellent coach. grown men, you should
rounded by his loving family ed into the Pro Football Hall My thoughts and prayers know what to do to take care With his distinctive Southern
at his home in Atlanta.” of Fame. Marty Schotten- are with (his wife) Pam, his of yourself.’ So when he got drawl, Reeves could be hon-
heimer is the only non-Hall family. A family man first. there, we stayed at our own est to a fault, such as when he
Reeves was a versatile run- of Fame coach with more Respect & love, RIP Coach place, our own house.” spoke openly of the rift that
ning back who played a key wins than Reeves (200), but Reeves!” led to his departure in Den-
role in the Cowboys becom- he never reached the Super A knee injury in 1968 forced ver — and opened up a lot
ing an NFL powerhouse in Bowl. Reeves again came up short Reeves into a more lim- of old wounds — during the
the 1960s under Landry. But of a championship, losing to ited role the rest of his ca- lead-up to the Falcons facing
his own coaching career — “When you look at all Dan Elway and the Broncos — reer. Landry recognized his the Broncos in the 1999 Su-
stretching over three teams did in this league with all the now coached by Shanahan — abilities off the field, asking per Bowl.
and 23 seasons — is where success, all the Super Bowls in the Super Bowl, 34-19. Reeves to serve as a player-
he truly left his mark on the and all the wins, I don’t think coach while runners such as “There’s still a lot of hurt that
league. there is any question he be- Reeves engineered another Duane Thomas and Calvin won’t ever go away,” Reeves
longs in the Pro Football Hall huge trade that brought Mi- Hill rose to prominence. said. “You never will forget
Including a stint with the of Fame.” Elway said. chael Vick to the Falcons, and those things.”
New York Giants, Reeves made his final playoff appear- The Cowboys made their
totaled 190 regular-season Reeves took over the Giants ance in 2002. Atlanta became first Super Bowl during the But Reeves rarely held
coaching victories — ninth in 1993 and led the team to the first road team to win a 1970 season, losing to the grudges, even with mem-
most in NFL history. But he the playoffs in his first sea- playoff game in Green Bay. Baltimore Colts. Dallas fi- bers of the media that he
joined Marv Levy and Bud son, his only postseason ap- But Vick was injured dur- nally won the championship had clashed with. In his later
Grant as the only coaches to pearance in New York. He ing the 2003 preseason, and the following year with a years, he would gladly take
go 0-4 in the Super Bowl, was fired after four seasons, Reeves was fired after the 24-3 victory over the Miami phone calls to discuss the is-
with all of Reeves’ losses by but Giants co-owner and team won just three of its Dolphins. sues of the day, once joking
at least 15 points. CEO John Mara remem- first 13 games. when a reporter identified
bered Reeves as “one of the Reeves retired as a player af- himself, “OK, what did I do
After taking over as Bron- finest men I have ever been He ended his coaching career ter the 1972 season, becom- wrong now?”
cos coach in 1981, Reeves around in this business.” — and 39 uninterrupted years ing a full-time assistant on
worked out a blockbuster in the NFL — with a record Landry’s staff. Before head- Reeves is survived by wife
trade to acquire Elway. The After Reeves recovered from of 190-165-2. Counting his ing to Denver, he took part Pam, his high school sweet-
quarterback would become emergency heart surgery late nine playoff appearances, his in three more Super Bowls heart; children Dana, Lee
the centerpiece of a team that in the season, the Falcons record was 201-174-2. with the Cowboys, who won and Laura; as well as grand-
won three AFC titles, five beat the heavily favored Min- another title during the 1977 children and great-grandchil-
AFC West crowns and earned nesota Vikings in an overtime Former Giants running back season. dren. Funeral arrangements
six trips to the playoffs over thriller at the Metrodome to Rodney Hampton praised have yet to be announced.
the coach’s 12-year tenure. claim the NFC champion- Reeves for the way he was As a head coach, Reeves was