We’re on day 30 of our 99-day countdown to the regular season. Here’s your daily factoid number 30.

One of the Dallas Cowboys’ more unique and versatile players who achieved even greater fame after his playing career was Dallas’ No. 30 pick, Dan Reeves.

Tony Tomsic-USA TODAY Sports

Daniel Edward Reeves was born on January 19, 1944 and went undrafted in 1965. His exceptional athletic talent caught the attention of the NFL Cowboys, the AFL Chargers and the MLB Pittsburgh Pirates. Ultimately, he decided to sign with Dallas, despite their lower financial offer.

He initially played safety before moving to running back due to the team’s injury problems. He adapted well to this new position and led the Cowboys in rushing yards in his second season despite sharing the backfield with Don Perkins. In addition, he was second in receiving yards, second only to Bob Hayes. By the end of 1966, Reeves had accumulated over 1,300 all-purpose yards, scored a league-leading and franchise-record 16 touchdowns, and contributed to Dallas’ first appearance in the 1966 Championship Game against Green Bay.

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

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After the 1972 season, Reeves took a year off from the team, returning in 1974 to take a full-time position on the coaching staff. Over the next seven years, he gained valuable experience under the tutelage of Tom Landry, playing in Super Bowls X, XII and XIII. This preparation prepared Reeves for the role of head coach, and when he took the helm in Denver in 1981, he became the youngest head coach in the league. During his tenure, he mentored the talented young quarterback John Elway and ultimately led the Broncos to three Super Bowl appearances.

He joined an exclusive group of only thirteen coaches in league history to achieve 200 career victories. During his nearly four-decade NFL career, he was part of the coaching staffs of an astonishing nine of the first 33 Super Bowls. As a player, Reeves celebrated victory in Super Bowl VI, and as a coach, he played a crucial role in leading Dallas to victory 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 on the NFL.

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