Head Coach Dan Reeves Released from Contract
December 10, 2003
The Atlanta Falcons today announced that Dan Reeves has been released from his contract effective immediately. Falcons defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, at Reeves’ recommendation, was named interim head coach for the remaining three games of the season. A press conference, to provide more details, will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at the Falcons training facility.
“Yesterday, I advised Dan that we’ve decided to bring in a new head coach beginning in the 2004 season,” said Falcons owner & CEO Arthur M. Blank. “Dan asked to be released from his position immediately and we agreed to do so, even though our desire was for him to stay on through the rest of the season.”
“We want to begin the process of searching for a new head coach in a thorough and honest manner,” said Blank. “In order to do so, and as Dan and I previously discussed, I wanted to let him know of our decision first. This conversation also puts the club in a position to operate in an open and honest environment during the final weeks of the season, and to proceed with our plans for the future.”
The decision to hire a new head coach beginning in the 2004 season was based on a number of factors related to the long-term plans and success of the franchise. “This decision is purely tied to our plans for the future success of our franchise,” Blank said. “We have made significant commitments to our fans and the community, and significant changes throughout other areas of the club. Now is the right time to set the course for our future in the coaching area, as well.”
It is anticipated that the selection of a new head coach will be announced after the end of the regular season.
“Dan’s record in the NFL speaks for itself,” said Blank. “He has had a long and successful NFL career as a head coach, assistant coach and player, and his Hall-of-Fame-caliber accomplishments will have a place in the NFL record and history books for years to come.
We are grateful to Dan for his many contributions to the Falcons during his seven seasons with us,” Blank continued. “Through his commitment and character, he has earned the respect of our entire organization.”
Reeves began his head coaching career in Denver where he compiled a 117-79-1 record from 1981-1992. He led the Broncos to three Super Bowl berths, four AFC Championship games, five AFC West Division titles, and eight winning seasons, while also being named Coach of the Year in 1984, 1989 and 1991. In 1993, Reeves was named head coach of the New York Giants where, during his first year, he earned Coach of the Year honors for a fourth time, taking the Giants to an 11-5 mark, including a wild-card playoff victory.
Reeves came to Atlanta in 1997 after a four-year stint as head coach of the New York Giants. In his second season with the Falcons, Reeves was named Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his career as he led the Falcons to the NFC West title with a 14-2 record and the club’s first ever Super Bowl appearance. During the 2002 season, Reeves led the Falcons to a berth in the NFC playoff field as a wild-card participant, when the Falcons became the first team ever to defeat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in a playoff game.
Reeves leaves the Falcons having achieved the milestone of becoming just the seventh coach in NFL history to reach 200 victories in his career. He also holds the distinction of being the most-winning active coach in the league. Overall, Reeves has accumulated 12 winning seasons as head coach, and participated in 50 playoff games and nine Super Bowls as an NFL player, assistant coach and head coach.
Wade Phillips has 27 years of NFL coaching experience, including three seasons as head coach for the Buffalo Bills from 1998 through 2000 and two seasons as head coach of the Denver Broncos during the 1993 and 1994 seasons. He served as interim head coach in New Orleans for the final four games of the 1985 season. This is his second season with the Falcons.
December 10, 2003
The Atlanta Falcons today announced that Dan Reeves has been released from his contract effective immediately. Falcons defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, at Reeves’ recommendation, was named interim head coach for the remaining three games of the season. A press conference, to provide more details, will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at the Falcons training facility.
“Yesterday, I advised Dan that we’ve decided to bring in a new head coach beginning in the 2004 season,” said Falcons owner & CEO Arthur M. Blank. “Dan asked to be released from his position immediately and we agreed to do so, even though our desire was for him to stay on through the rest of the season.”
“We want to begin the process of searching for a new head coach in a thorough and honest manner,” said Blank. “In order to do so, and as Dan and I previously discussed, I wanted to let him know of our decision first. This conversation also puts the club in a position to operate in an open and honest environment during the final weeks of the season, and to proceed with our plans for the future.”
The decision to hire a new head coach beginning in the 2004 season was based on a number of factors related to the long-term plans and success of the franchise. “This decision is purely tied to our plans for the future success of our franchise,” Blank said. “We have made significant commitments to our fans and the community, and significant changes throughout other areas of the club. Now is the right time to set the course for our future in the coaching area, as well.”
It is anticipated that the selection of a new head coach will be announced after the end of the regular season.
“Dan’s record in the NFL speaks for itself,” said Blank. “He has had a long and successful NFL career as a head coach, assistant coach and player, and his Hall-of-Fame-caliber accomplishments will have a place in the NFL record and history books for years to come.
We are grateful to Dan for his many contributions to the Falcons during his seven seasons with us,” Blank continued. “Through his commitment and character, he has earned the respect of our entire organization.”
Reeves began his head coaching career in Denver where he compiled a 117-79-1 record from 1981-1992. He led the Broncos to three Super Bowl berths, four AFC Championship games, five AFC West Division titles, and eight winning seasons, while also being named Coach of the Year in 1984, 1989 and 1991. In 1993, Reeves was named head coach of the New York Giants where, during his first year, he earned Coach of the Year honors for a fourth time, taking the Giants to an 11-5 mark, including a wild-card playoff victory.
Reeves came to Atlanta in 1997 after a four-year stint as head coach of the New York Giants. In his second season with the Falcons, Reeves was named Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his career as he led the Falcons to the NFC West title with a 14-2 record and the club’s first ever Super Bowl appearance. During the 2002 season, Reeves led the Falcons to a berth in the NFC playoff field as a wild-card participant, when the Falcons became the first team ever to defeat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in a playoff game.
Reeves leaves the Falcons having achieved the milestone of becoming just the seventh coach in NFL history to reach 200 victories in his career. He also holds the distinction of being the most-winning active coach in the league. Overall, Reeves has accumulated 12 winning seasons as head coach, and participated in 50 playoff games and nine Super Bowls as an NFL player, assistant coach and head coach.
Wade Phillips has 27 years of NFL coaching experience, including three seasons as head coach for the Buffalo Bills from 1998 through 2000 and two seasons as head coach of the Denver Broncos during the 1993 and 1994 seasons. He served as interim head coach in New Orleans for the final four games of the 1985 season. This is his second season with the Falcons.
