The First Get Celebrated; The Last Get Overlooked

The first get celebrated; the last get overlooked. The first person to achieve a milestone is often celebrated and memorialized. Chuck Yeager was the first person to break the sound barrier. John Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth. Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon. I remember watching it on television. These men are etched in history as the first.

We Rarely Celebrate the Last

The firsts are almost always celebrated and the lasts are almost always overlooked. There are occasions when the last should be celebrated too. Dan Reeves exemplifies one of the lasts that are worth celebrating.

You May Know Him As a Coach

You may know him as a coach, but before Dan Reeves was a football coach he was a rugged 6′ 2″ 200 pound running back for the Dallas Cowboys. Mr. Reeves played quarterback at South Carolina, however he went undrafted in the NFL Draft of 1965. The Dallas Cowboys offered Dan a contract to play safety. Mr. Reeves signed with the Cowboys notwithstanding offers to play for the San Diego Chargers and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Injuries forced the Cowboys to move Dan to halfback and he immediately became a star.

From Player to Coach

Dan displayed an amazing nose for the endzone and a extremely high football intelligence quotient. Injuries began to pile up on Mr. Reeves and by 1970 he was named player/coach by Head Coach Tom Landry. Dan Reeves was the last player/coach in the National Football League. The last that is often overlooked and should definitely be celebrated. The player/coach was a dying breed and after Dan Reeves, the NFL legislated and bargained the player/coach out of existence. The unique opportunity of player/coach catapulted Dan Reeves into an amazing coaching career.

The Last Shall Be First

The last player/coach was a great assistant coach and an even better head coach. Dan Reeves participated in 9 Super Bowls as a player and coach. He belongs in the Hall of Fame. The kids would say, “Put some respect on his name.” Mr. Reeves belongs because he was a great coach. Mr. Reeves belongs because he was the last last. The first get celebrated. The last get overlooked. Dan Reeves shows us that the last last deserves to be celebrated.