Falcons' Reeves Playoffs Bound

Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Reeves has been given a clean bill of health to return for the team's NFC divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday.

Reeves underwent quadruple heart bypass surgery three weeks ago and missed the team's final two regular season games.

"My goal is to try and be on the sideline, but I think I'll have a better idea after we go through the next three days of practice," said Reeves Tuesday.

If Reeves is unable to coach from the sideline, he will likely relay instructions from the coaches' box for Saturday's playoff game.

Defensive coordinator Rich Brooks had served as the Falcons' interim coach for their final two regular season games -- victories against Detroit and Miami.

The 54-year-old Reeves underwent more than four hours of surgery on Dec. 14 after an angiogram revealed he had three blocked arteries. He had undergone angioplasties in 1990 and 1991.

Reeves earned his fifth coach of the year award this season for transforming a team which finished 3-13 just two years ago. The Falcons boasted the second-best record in the NFL at 14-2 and won their last nine games to break a club record for victories set in 1980, when Atlanta went 12-4 and won its only division crown.

If the Falcons beat the 49ers on Saturday, they will advance to the NFC championship for the first time in the 33-year history of the franchise.

Atlanta's Dan Reeves has been cleared to coach the Falcons in their opening playoff game. (AP)

Reeves, a native of Rome, Georgia, was hired as Falcons coach and executive vice president of football operations in 1997. After a 1-7 start, the Falcons won six of their last eight games to finish 7-9 last season.

Reeves is the NFL's winningest active coach with 160 regular season victories. Over 18 years, including the postseason, he has a career record of 168-124-1, ranking eighth all-time in wins.

Reeves spent the first 12 years of his coaching career with the Denver Broncos, guiding them to three Super Bowls, four AFC Championship games and five AFC West titles. He was named AFC Coach of the Year in 1982, 1988 and 1991 and compiled a record of 117-79 with the Broncos, including postseason.

Reeves' teams in Denver won 10 or more games in a season seven times. However, he was fired after his relationship with quarterback John Elway became strained. He was hired as coach of the New York Giants in 1993 and turned around the team in his first season, taking them from 6-10 to 11-5 and a playoff berth to again earn Coach of the Year honors.

But after a 9-7 finish in 1994, the Giants were a combined 11-21 over the next two years and Reeves was fired following the 1996 season. In his tenure with the Giants, Reeves openly feuded with Giants general manager George Young and player personnel director Tom Boisture, a battle that ultimately ended in his dismissal.

As executive vice president of operations in Atlanta, Reeves has final say in all football-related matters.

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