From the family of late head coach Dan Reeves:
Daniel Edward Reeves, 77, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family in Atlanta, GA on January 1, 2022.
He was born to Ann and Ed Reeves in Rome, Georgia on January 19, 1944, moving to his hometown of Americus, Georgia as an infant.
Dan was a standout three-sport athlete at Americus High School. His senior year, they won state championships in basketball, baseball, and football. He was honored with the Most Valuable Player award at the Georgia Football All-Star game. He always said his greatest achievement in high school was getting freshman cheerleader, Pam White, to go on a date with him. She became his wife of 57 years.
Reeves earned a scholarship to South Carolina, where he was a three-year starter at quarterback. In 1965, he signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys, beginning a 38-year career in the NFL. He would spend 15 years with the Cowboys as a player, player- coach and offensive coordinator under his mentor and hero, Tom Landry. Reeves became the youngest head coach in the NFL when he joined the Denver Broncos in 1981. Following his success in Denver, Reeves would go on to coach the New York Giants and the Atlanta Falcons, taking the Falcons to their first ever Super Bowl. Reeves is one of only nine coaches with over 200 wins and has appeared in nine Super Bowls, a total that has been topped by only Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. He is a member of the Sports Halls of Fame in Georgia, Colorado, South Carolina, and Texas. Reeves was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 2014.
Reeves is one of six coaches to win the NFL Coach of the Year with multiple teams, earning the honor with the Giants in 1993 and the Falcons five years later.
New York Giants head coach Dan Reeves looks on during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at 3Com Park at Candlestick Point on October 1, 1995 in San Francisco, California. (AP Photo/David Stluka)
New York Giants head coach Dan Reeves, left, and quarterback Phil Simms, watch David Treadwell kick a field goal in the first quarter during their game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 5, 1993 in Chicago. (AP Photo/John Swart)
New York Giants head coach Dan Reeves, left, congratulates linebacker Lawrence Taylor after the last defensive series of the NFC playoff win over the Minnesota Vikings at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, Sunday, Jan. 9, 1994. The Giants won 17-10 and will face the San Francisco 49ers next. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
New York Giants head coach Dan Reeves gives some instructions to his starting quarterback Phil Simms during the third quarter of their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday, Sept. 12, 1993. The Giants beat the Buccaneers 23-7 for their second win of the season. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
New York Giants head coach Dan Reeves during the Giants 17 - 10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the 1993 NFC Wild Card Playoff Game on Jan. 9, 1994 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New York Giants head coach Dan Reeves yells from the sidelines in a game against the Dallas Cowboys in East Rutherford, Saturday, Dec. 24, 1994. The Giants won 15-10. They finished the season with a 9-7 record but did not make the playoffs. (AP Photo/John Dunn)
New York Giants head coach Dan Reeves looks on during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at 3Com Park at Candlestick Point on October 1, 1995 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 20-6. (AP Photo/David Stluka)
New York Giants head coach Dan Reeves, right, confers with quarterback Phil Simms on the sidelines during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 17, 1993 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) and Kent Graham (10) watch head coach Dan Reeves, left, signal, in a play during morning practice at training camp in Madison, N.J. Aug. 13, 1993. (AP Photo/Daniel Hulshizer)
New York Giants head coach Dan Reeves looks on during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at 3Com Park at Candlestick Point on October 1, 1995 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won 20-6. (AP Photo/David Stluka)
New York Giants head coach Dan Reeves talks to reporters Friday, Jan. 5, 1995, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Chicago Bears head coach Dave Wannstedt, left, talks with New York Giants head coach Dan Reeves before the start of their game, Sunday, Sept. 5, 1993 in Chicago. (AP Photo/John Swart)
New York Giants coach Dan Reeves argues a call in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys in Irving, Texas, Monday, Nov. 7, 1994. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
New York Giants football coach Dan Reeves watches the New York Knicks play the Detroit Pistons during first period NBA action at New York?s Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 1994. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New York Giants head coach Dan Reeves, left, and quarterback Phil Simms, watch David Treadwell kick a field goal in the first quarter during their game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 5, 1993 in Chicago. Simms lead the team 57-yards to set up the field goal. He completed 24-34 for 277 yards as the Giants defeat. (AP Photo/John Swart)
New York Giants coach Dan Reeves confers with quarterback Phil Simms during the first quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, Sept. 19, 1993. Reeves, who came to the Giants from the Denver Broncos, has led the Giants to a 3-0 record in his first season in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
New York Giants coach Dan Reeves watches from the sidelines in the fourth quarter as the Giants lose 31-9 to the Dallas Cowboys in Irving, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 7, 1993. (AP Photo/Glenn James)
New York Giants coach Bill Parcells, left, has difficulty getting to Denver Broncos coach Dan Reeves for congratulatory handshake after the Giants defeated the Broncos, 39-20 in Super Bowl XXI in Pasadena, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 26, 1987. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
New York Giants coach Bill Parcells (right) talks with Denver Broncos coach Dan Reeves prior to Super Bowl XXI in January 1987. The Giants defeated the Broncos 39 - 20. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
In later years, he treasured time with his seven precious grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He also enjoyed weekends at the lake with Pam as his co-captain for their sunset cruises with family and friends.
Dan loved golf and remained competitive, playing with his friends at the Atlanta Athletic Club.
As a lifelong supporter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, speaking and sharing Christ with others, Dan exemplified an I Am Third Life: "Jesus Christ is first, others are second, I am third."
Dan was a longtime member of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, and active with the Blazers Sunday School class.
Reeves' longevity and success in the NFL may be what some will remember. His family and friends knew him as a devout man of faith, a person of great character and integrity, and a loving husband, father and "Poppy."
Coach always made time for others and believed that you can tell the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Pam, daughter Dana DeCamillis (Joe), son Lee Reeves (Tara) and daughter Laura Murphy (Mark); siblings, Charles Reeves (Kay), Joann Brittingham (Jerry) and Butch Reeves (Barbara); seven grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of his life will be held on January 14, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, 3180 Peachtree Road, NW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30305. Reception to follow in Grace Hall.
Memorials can be made to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, 8701 Leeds Road, Kansas City, MO, 64129; Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, or charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be expressed by visiting www.hmpattersonarlington.com
