Countdown to the season opener: Day 93 Dan Reeves

We’re counting down to the season opener (Day 93) with some Cowboys history

We’re counting down the days until the Dallas Cowboys battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener of the 2025 NFL season. To pass the time and mark the days, we asked some of our writers to rank their top-100 players in Cowboys history using no particular criteria, and put the results together into one list. The further away you get from the top 20 or so, the more varied the opinions. Sometimes it is about more than just stats. Things like fame level, length of career in Dallas, the era they played in – all can affect where an individual might rank them. So sit back and enjoy some Cowboys history while we countdown to football.

Today – number 93.

Dan Reeves

Born: January 19, 1944. Rome, Georgia
Position: Running Back
Dallas Cowboys: 1965–1972
Awards: Super Bowl champion- VI, XII

Dan Reeves was part of the Dallas Cowboys for an extraordinary length of time, from 1965 until 1981 as both player and coach. His career in the NFL began after signing as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina. Originally a college quarterback, Reeves converted to running back and became a key offensive contributor under head coach Tom Landry. He saw Reeves athletic ability as a fit for the position during a time where the team had suffered injuries at running back.

During his eight year playing career, Reeves played in 100 games amassing 1,990 rushing yards, 1,693 receiving yards and 42 total touchdowns, never missing the playoffs during his time on the roster. Reeves appeared in two Super Bowls with Dallas either as a player or coach, and was part of the team that won Super Bowl VI.

Known for his intelligence and leadership, Reeves became a player-coach late in his playing career for Dallas, laying the foundation for his future as a highly respected NFL head coach. He would finish his coaching career in 2023 while at Atlanta, making his NFL career as both player and coach spanning just shy of 60 years. Reeves sadly passed away in 2022, where left behind his wife, three children and six grandchildren.

Best known for:
Reeves was best known for his role as a versatile, team-first running back and for being one of the few Cowboys to successfully transition from player to coach within the organization.

Lesser known fact:
In 1966, Reeves set a franchise record with 16 total touchdowns in a single season, an impressive feat that often gets overlooked and wasn’t broken until Emmitt Smith in 1992.