Editing Dan Reeves (section)

==Professional playing career==
Although he went undrafted after graduation, Reeves received professional sports offers from the [[Dallas Cowboys]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL), the [[San Diego Chargers]] in the [[American Football League]] (AFL) and the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] in [[Major League Baseball]]. Reeves signed with the Cowboys as an [[undrafted free agent]] in 1965 to play [[Safety (gridiron football position)|safety]], but was later moved to [[halfback (American football)|halfback]] when a series of injuries depleted the team's depth during [[Training camp (National Football League)|training camp]].<ref>{{cite web|last=McClary |first=Tara |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/10/15/dan-reeves-pro-football-hall-of-fame-opinion/ |title=Guest Commentary: It's time for Dan Reeves to take his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame |publisher=Denverpost.com |date=October 15, 2019 |accessdate=January 1, 2022}}</ref>

In 1966, [[Tom Landry]], looking for more speed at [[running back]], shifted [[All-Pro]] [[Safety (American and Canadian football position)|safety]] [[Mel Renfro]] to offense. Renfro was hurt in the opening game, against the [[New York Giants]], and Reeves took advantage of his opportunity by having a breakout season, leading the team in rushing with 757 yards and scoring with 96 points, while finishing second in receiving with 557 yards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/1966.htm|title=1966 Dallas Cowboys Statistics & Players|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref> His performance helped the Cowboys take some of the running load from [[Fullback (gridiron football)|fullback]] [[Don Perkins]] and reach their first championship game. Reeves set a franchise record with sixteen touchdowns (eight rushing and eight receiving), had over 1,300 all-purpose yards, was sixth in the NFL in rushing, first in touchdowns, and sixth in scoring.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1966/leaders.htm|title=1966 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref> He was also voted to ''[[The Sporting News]]'' [[All-Pro]] team at the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91607149/green-bay-dallas-dominate-nfl-all-star/ |title=Green Bay, Dallas Dominate NFL All-Star Division Teams |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=December 25, 1966 |accessdate=January 1, 2022}}</ref>

In 1967, Reeves posted back-to-back seasons with more than 600 rushing yards, ranking second on the team in rushing with 603 yards and third in receiving with 490 yards. In the week 8 game against the [[Atlanta Falcons]], he set a franchise record after scoring four touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91608434/dan-reeves-having-his-troubles-this-seas/ |title=Dan Reeves Having His Troubles This Season |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=November 6, 1967 |accessdate=January 1, 2022}}</ref> In the week 13 game against the [[Philadelphia Eagles]], Reeves scored touchdowns rushing, receiving, and passing in the same game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91609302/tough-cowboy-defense-shackles-eagles-38/ |title=Tough Cowboy Defense Shackles Eagles, 38-17 |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=December 11, 1967 |accessdate=January 1, 2022}}</ref> He remained a starter until Week 4 of the [[1968 NFL season|1968 season]], when he tore ligaments in his left knee and was lost for the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91609535/dan-reeves-spectator/ |title=Dan Reeves, Spectator |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=December 1, 1968 |accessdate=January 1, 2022}}</ref>

The injury ended up hampering Reeves for the remainder of his career and limiting his abilities. Head coach [[Tom Landry]] started playing him in spots and asked him to become a [[player-coach]], while being passed on the depth chart by [[Calvin Hill]] and [[Duane Thomas]]. Reeves remained in that role for three years, until he retired as an active player to become a full-time assistant coach on February 22, 1972.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://heraldcourier.com/archives/dan-reeves-in-bristol-jan-31/article_e1713aab-1917-526e-84fd-b3383dcffe0b.html|title=Dan Reeves in Bristol Jan. 31|first=Tom|last = Netherland|website=HeraldCourier.com|date=January 26, 2012 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1972/02/23/archives/cards-get-anderson-send-lane-to-packers-running-backs-played.html Wallace, William N. "Cards Get Anderson, Send Lane to Packers," ''The New York Times'', Wednesday, February 23, 1972.] Retrieved September 27, 2020</ref>

Reeves played eight seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, collected 1,990 rushing yards, 1,693 receiving yards, and 42 touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=REEVEDAN01 |title=Dan Reeves Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com |access-date=January 1, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023032035/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=REEVEDAN01 |archive-date=October 23, 2012 }}</ref> The Cowboys made the playoffs every year, reaching the [[Super Bowl]] twice and culminating in a 24–3 victory over the [[Miami Dolphins]] in [[Super Bowl VI]] following the [[1971 NFL season|1971 season]]. In [[Super Bowl V]] with the Cowboys and Colts tied at 13 in the last two minutes, he let a pass go through his hands that was intercepted, setting up the Colts in Dallas territory. The Colts won the game on a 32-yard [[Field goal (football)|field goal]] from [[Jim O'Brien (American football)|Jim O'Brien]] with five seconds left. He threw a touchdown pass in the Cowboys' losing effort in the legendary subzero [[1967 NFL Championship Game|Ice Bowl]] against the [[Green Bay Packers]] for the [[1967 NFL Championship Game|1967 NFL title]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/decades/1960s/ice_bowl.jsp|title = The Ice Bowl - Football History &#124; Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site}}</ref>

In 2010, Reeves was inducted into the [[Texas Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wacotrib.com/sports/texas-sports-hall-of-fame-profile-former-cowboy-reeves-found-success-as-player-assistant-and/article_06040b33-52e6-5dd9-bbce-3a4f3709dce5.html|title=TEXAS SPORTS HALL OF FAME PROFILE: Former Cowboy Reeves found success as player, assistant and head coach|first=John|last=Werner|website=WacoTrib.com|date=December 19, 2009 }}</ref>