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Dan Reeves (center), as coach of the New York Giants in 1993
Photo: Mark Lennihan / AP
Football legend Dan Reeves has died at the age of 77.
The former coach and player in the NFL died of complications from dementia, said a family statement published on New Year's Day.
Reeves died "peacefully and surrounded by his loving family in his home in Atlanta."
The American won the Super Bowl as a professional with the Dallas Coboys, but was mainly due to his long and successful coaching career with the Denver Broncos (1981-1992), the New York Giants (1993-1996) and the Atlanta Falcons (1997-2003 ) known.
In his 38 years in the NFL, Dan Reeves has participated in a total of nine Super Bowls.
According to the NFL, Reeves is the only one who has participated in several Super Bowls both as a player and as a coach.
As a player, Reeves signed with the Cowboys in 1965.
He quickly moved from quarterback to halfback, as Dallas had many injuries in the latter position.
During his eight seasons with the Cowboys, Reeves scored rushing yards in 1990 and receiving yards in 1693 with a total of 42 touchdowns.
He helped Dallas to a 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins in the Super Bowl before joining the coaching staff with which he led the Cowboys to the Super Bowl three more times.
At 37, Reeves was the youngest head coach in the NFL when he joined the Broncos in 1981.
The team reached the Super Bowl in 1986, 1987, and 1989 - and lost each time - before being fired after the 1992 season.
"We are saddened by the death of Ring of Fame Head Coach Dan Reeves, who led us to three Super Bowl appearances," wrote the Broncos on their official Twitter account.
"We extend our condolences to his family."
Reeves joined the Giants in 1993 and was named NFL Coach of the Year that same season.
He spent three more seasons in New York before being fired after the 1996 season.
Reeves moved to the Falcons in 1997 and led the club to the Super Bowl the following season, where he was defeated by John Elway and the Broncos.
The Georgia-born coach was named NFL Coach of the Year again after the 1998 season.
ara / dpa / rtr