Dallas City News

We are at day 30 of our 99 day countdown until the regular season. Here is your daily fact associated with number 30.

One of the more unique and versatile players for the Dallas Cowboys who went on to greater fame after his playing career was a number 30 for Dallas, Dan Reeves.

Tony Tomsic-USA TODAY Sports

Daniel Edward Reeves was born January 19, 1944 and went undrafted in 1965. His exceptional athletic talent attracted significant attention from the NFL’s Cowboys, the AFL’s Chargers, and MLB’s Pittsburgh Pirates. Ultimately, he chose to sign with Dallas, despite their lower financial offer.

He initially played as a safety before transitioning to running back to address the team’s injury concerns. He adapted to this new position effectively, leading the Cowboys in rushing yards during his second season, even while sharing the backfield with Don Perkins. Additionally, he ranked second in receiving yards, trailing only Bob Hayes. By the end of 1966, Reeves accumulated over 1,300 all-purpose yards, achieved a league-leading and franchise-record 16 touchdowns, and contributed to Dallas’s first championship game appearance in 1966 against Green Bay.

During his eight-year career as a running back for the Dallas Cowboys, Reeves accumulated a total of 1,990 rushing yards and scored 25 touchdowns across 100 games. In addition to his impressive rushing statistics, he also recorded nearly as many receiving yards, totaling 1,693, along with 17 receiving touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the franchise’s pioneering dual-threat players.

Photo by STEPHEN JAFFE/AFP via Getty Images

After the conclusion of the 1972 season, Reeves took a one-year hiatus from the team, returning in 1974 to assume a full-time position on the coaching staff. Over the next seven years, he gained invaluable experience under the guidance of Tom Landry, participating in Super Bowls X, XII, and XIII. This preparation equipped Reeves for a head coaching role, and in 1981, he became the youngest head coach in the league when he took the helm in Denver. During his tenure, he would mentor the talented young quarterback John Elway and ultimately guide the Broncos to three Super Bowl appearances.

He would join an exclusive group of only thirteen coaches in the history of the league to achieve 200 career victories. Throughout an NFL career that lasted nearly forty years, he contributed to the coaching staffs of an astonishing nine out of the first 33 Super Bowls. As a player, Reeves celebrated victory in Super Bowl VI, and as a coach, he played a pivotal role in guiding Dallas to triumph over Denver in Super Bowl XII.

Then with great sadness, Reeves passed away in 2022, at the age of 77. He achieved remarkable success in every franchise he was involved with and left a lasting impression in the NFL.

Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images