Professional Career
Although he went undrafted after graduation, he received offers to play professional sports with the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL, the San Diego Chargers in the AFL and the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball.
Reeves signed with the Cowboys as a rookie undrafted free agent in 1965 to play the safety position, but was later moved to halfback, after a series of injuries depleted the team's depth during training camp. His rookie year was spent playing mostly in the kickoff and punt units.
In 1966, Tom Landry looking for more speed at running back, shifted All-Pro safety Mel Renfro to offense. Renfro was hurt in the opening game against the New York Giants, and Reeves took advantage of his playing opportunity by having a break out season, not only leading the team in rushing with 757 yards, but finishing second in pass receiving with 757 yards and in scoring with 96 points. He set a Cowboys record with 16 touchdowns (8 rushing and 8 receiving), had over 1300 combined yards, was sixth in the NFL in rushing, first in touchdowns and sixth in scoring.
He was voted to The Sporting News All-Pro team at the end of the year. Reeves became the NFL's sixth-leading rusher. Reeves's performance in 1966 helped the Cowboys take some of the running load from fullback Don Perkins and reach its first championship game.
In 1967 he posted back to back seasons with more than 600 yards and he was the Cowboys second leading rusher with 603 yards and third in receiving with 490 yards. In week 13 against the Philadelphia Eagles he recorded a touchdown run, touchdown reception, and touchdown pass in the same game. He also set a team record scoring 4 touchdowns in a game against the Atlanta Falcons.
During the first half of his NFL career, he became a multi-talented player and displayed the ability to consistently make big plays.
He remained a starter until week 4 of the 1968 season, when he tore ligaments in his right knee and was lost for the season. That knee injury ended up hampering him for the remainder of his playing career and limiting his abilities.
Because of his injury, Tom Landry started playing him in spots and asked him to become a player coach, giving more playing time to Calvin Hill and Duane Thomas. He did that for 3 years, until the end of the 1972 season when he retired to become a full-time assistant coach.
Reeves played eight seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, collected 1,990 rushing yards, 1,693 receiving yards and 42 touchdowns. Reeves threw a touchdown pass in the Cowboys' losing effort in the legendary Ice Bowl against the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys made the playoffs every year of Reeves's playing days, reaching the Super Bowl twice and culminating in a 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI following the 1971 season. In Super Bowl V with the Cowboys and Colts tied at 13 in the last 2 minutes, Dan Reeves let a pass go through his hands and it was intercepted, setting up the Colts in Dallas territory. The Colts would win the game on a 32-yard field goal from Jim O'Brien with 5 seconds left.
Reeves holds the record of most Super Bowl appearances as a player and or coach with 9.
In 2010, he was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
Read more about this topic: Dan Reeves
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