Dan Reeves was available 20 years ago when he sought his first NFL head coaching job. The Atlanta Falcons didn't offer it then. They did now, and he accepted.
Reeves agreed to a five-year deal on Monday. In addition to his coaching duties, the 53-year-old native of Rome, Ga., will be in charge of the football operation.The NFL's winningest active coach, he takes on the task of rebuilding a team that was 3-13 last season.
Reeves, who succeeds the fired June Jones, will be introduced at a news conference this afternoon in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome, where the Falcons play their home games.
Reeves originally interviewed with the Falcons in 1977 while an assistant with the Dallas Cowboys. Instead, Atlanta hired Leeman Bennett. Three years later, Reeves became the league's youngest coach, taking over the Denver Broncos at age 37.
"I'm excited about being here, I can tell you that," Reeves said after arriving in Atlanta Monday by private jet.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said Reeves agreed to a $7.5 million to $8 million contract.
Reeves takes over a team that has made only five playoff appearances and has only seven winning seasons in its 31-year existence.
Reeves was fired by the New York Giants after compiling a 31-33 record and making only one playoff appearance in four seasons. He has a career record of 149-113-1, making him the 10th winningest coach in NFL history.
The Falcons interviewed only two candidates to succeed Jones, who still had two years remaining on his contract.
Bobby Ross, a former Georgia Tech coach, took the Detroit Lions' coaching job last week after being ousted at San Diego. He reportedly was Atlanta's first choice.
He led the Broncos to three Super Bowl appearances in 12 years at Denver.
In 1993, Reeves went to New York and guided the Giants to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth, losing in the second round to San Francisco.
Reeves is the 11th coach in Falcons history and will have virtually total control of the football operation, something no other Atlanta coach has ever had.