Sports and Torts: Dan Reeves

Sports and Torts: Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott

Dan Reeves

Reeves was born in Rome, Georgia in 1944. He attended the University of South Carolina, where he played quarterback from 1962-1964. He was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1977.



In 1965, Reeves signed as a free agent with the Cowboys. Over eight seasons as an all-purpose back, Reeves amassed 1,990 rushing yards and 1,693 receiving yards. His best year came in 1966 when he scored 16 touchdowns, which tied him in the NFL that season for most touchdowns. Reeves finished his playing career as the Cowboys’ fifth all-time leading rusher. The Cowboys made the playoffs every year of Reeves’ playing career, reaching the Super Bowl twice and winning Super Bowl VI with a 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins.

Read More About Coach Reeves at his website

Ronnie Lott

In his first NFL season, Lott led a young secondary that helped the 49ers to win Super Bowl XVI. He became the second rookie in NFL history to return three interceptions for touchdowns. His outstanding play resulted in his finishing second for Rookie of the Year honors.



Known for his hard-hitting style, Lott was used at both left and right cornerback positions and as a free and strong safety during his 14-year career. The versatile defensive back earned 10 Pro Bowl invitations at three different positions – cornerback, free safety, and strong safety. It was, however, at free safety, where he had the freedom to cover the whole field, that he may have been most effective. In 1986, he played 14 games at the free safety position before an injury sidelined him for the final two games of the season. Still, he led the league with a career-most 10 interceptions, recorded 77 tackles, three forced fumbles and two quarterback sacks. It was perhaps his finest season.



During his career with the 49ers (1981-90), Los Angeles Raiders (1991-92), and the New York Jets (1993-94) Lott recorded 63 career interceptions and twice led the league. A complete player, he surpassed the 1,000-career tackle mark in 1993, and had five seasons of at least 100 tackles. In his ten seasons with the 49ers, San Francisco won eight NFC Western Division titles and four Super Bowls. In 20 playoff contests (all starts), he recorded nine interceptions, 89 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two touchdowns.



It has been said that Lott had the uncanny ability of being able to sense the direction a play was about to take and then somehow disrupt it. \"He’s like a middle linebacker playing safety,\" Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry once remarked. \"He’s devastating. He may dominate the secondary better than anyone I’ve seen.\" Named All-Pro eight times, All-NFC six times, and All-AFC once, Lott was also selected to play in 10 Pro Bowls and was named to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hal of Fame in 2000.

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