Dan Reeves was born in New York City on June 30, 1912. His parents were Irish immigrants. His family ran a grocery business. They became wealthy and sold the business in 1941. That sale gave Reeves the money to buy the Cleveland Rams. He was 29 years old. In 1946, he moved the team to Los Angeles. It became the first major league franchise on the West Coast. That same year, he signed Kenny Washington and Woody Strode. They were the first Black NFL players in the modern era. He was also the first to hire a full-time scouting staff. The Rams won the 1945 championship and the 1951 title. Reeves later brought in star coach George Allen. The team returned to success under Allen. Reeves also owned the Los Angeles Blades hockey team. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967. Reeves died of cancer in his New York apartment on April 15, 1971.
Reeves’ early life was shaped by New York. He was born there and raised in a family that built a business from scratch. That business success started his sports career. Though he moved west, he stayed connected to New York. He returned there later in life. He died there. His story begins and ends in New York. His legacy lives on in pro football. His decisions shaped the NFL’s growth. His early actions integrated the league.
A native of Americus, Ga., Reeves attended Americus High School, where he played football, basketball, and baseball.
Dan Reeves was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967, his first year of eligibility.
