Palmetto State News

Legendary football coach Dan Reeves, starting quarterback for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks from 1962 to 1964, died Jan. 1 at age 77, according to Gamecocks Online.

When he left South Carolina for a career in professional football, Reeves was the leading passer in the school's history with 2,561 yards passing. He completed a 69-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Bryant in a game against Wake Forest in 1964, which was then the fifth longest completion in University of South Carolina history.

In 1977, Reeves was inducted into the University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2006, he was named to the State of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame.

Dan Reeves | Wikimedia Commons/Jeffrey Beall

After leaving the Gamecocks, Reeves was a player for Dallas Cowboys under Coach Tom Landry. He went on to coach in the NFL, including the Denver Broncos in 1981, the New York Giants in 1993 and the Atlanta Falcons in 1997. He remained with the Falcons until 2003.

Reeves died of complications from dementia. His family said he died "peacefully and surrounded by his loving family at his home in Atlanta. His legacy will continue through his many friends, players and fans, as well as the rest of the NFL community," according to Gamecocks Online.

Reeves, originally from Americus, Georgia, was one of only nine coaches  in NFL history to win 200 games, including the playoffs, according to  Gamecocks Online. He won Coach of the Year honors with the Falcons and  the Giants and was one of only six coaches to win the award with  multiple teams.

"We're saddened by the passing of Ring of Fame Head Coach Dan Reeves, who led us to three Super Bowl appearances," the Denver Broncos said in a statement. "We send our sincerest condolences to his family."