Latest news with #TomRafferty
Fox News
3 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Cowboys great, Super Bowl champion Tom Rafferty dead at 70
Former NFL star Tom Rafferty died in Colorado Thursday, The Dallas Morning News confirmed. The 1978 Super Bowl champion was 70. Rafferty recently had a stroke, and the former offensive lineman had been hospitalized since early May. He played guard and center during his standout career with the Dallas Cowboys. Rafferty played for the Cowboys from 1976-89. During that span, he was a key part of an offensive line that helped protect Hall of Fame quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman. Before he became a fourth-round draft pick, Rafferty played for the Penn State Nittany Lions. Rafferty earned a Super Bowl ring when the Cowboys defeated the Denver Broncos in the 1978 Super Bowl. He played in another Super Bowl after the 1978 season, albeit in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Perhaps Rafferty's most memorable career moment happened in January 1983 when he delivered the key block to help spring Tony Dorsett's record-setting 99-yard touchdown run in a game against the Minnesota Vikings. After his playing days, Rafferty spent time working in sports equipment sales. He is survived by his wife, their two children and grandchildren. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys offensive lineman Tom Rafferty, who played 14 seasons with Dallas, dies at 70
Tom Rafferty, who played 14 seasons for the Dallas Cowboys as an offensive lineman and won a Super Bowl championship with the team, died on Thursday at the age of 70. Rafferty had been hospitalized in Windsor, Colorado since suffering a stroke in early May, his daughter told the Dallas Morning News. Advertisement The Cowboys' fourth-round pick (No. 119 overall) out of Penn State in 1976, Rafferty played his first five NFL seasons at guard before moving to center for the remainder of his career. He started 182 out of a possible 203 games, including 167 consecutive starts. 'If you look at his dimensions [6-foot-3, 256 pounds], he wouldn't be playing in the offensive line today.' longtime Cowboys radio broadcaster Brad Sham told the Dallas Morning News. 'But that's what [coach Tom Landry] wanted. He wanted pulling linemen and guys who could get downfield in front of [Tony] Dorsett on a screen pass." Rafferty threw a key block for Dorsett's NFL-record 99-yard touchdown run on Jan. 3, 1983 versus the Minnesota Vikings. Amazingly, Dallas only had 10 men on the field for that play. For the past 17 years, Rafferty had battled transverse myelitis, a disorder that affects the central nervous system. He was hospitalized for 48 days and refused to use a wheelchair. Advertisement "He just kept at it until he could walk again,' recalled Rafferty's daughter, Rachel Powers. 'No sensation below his waist, but he made it happen." Rafferty was one of 12 players in franchise history to play at least 14 years for the Cowboys. In his second season, Dallas defeated the Denver Broncos to win Super Bowl XII. The Cowboys lost Super Bowl XIII to the Pittsburgh Steelers the following year. His final season was 1989 for a 1-15 Cowboys team during Hall of Famer Troy Aikman's rookie year. With Aikman and Roger Staubach, Rafferty played with two Hall of Fame quarterbacks.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dallas Cowboys Iron Man Icon Tom Rafferty Dead at 70
Dallas Cowboys Iron Man Icon Tom Rafferty Dead at 70 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. FRISCO - Legendary Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Tom Raffery has passed away. Rafferty was 70. Rafferty's daughter, Rachel Powers, informs the Dallas News that her father had been hospitalized in Colorado since early May. Advertisement The Cowboys selected Rafferty in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft, and he spent his entire 14-year playing career as a prominent member of "America's Team.'' How long was he an institution with the Cowboys? Long enough that played with quarterback Roger Staubach ... and he played with quarterback Troy Aikman in his final NFL season in 1979. Rafferty, a Penn State product, took over for Blaine Nye at right guard in his second season and started there for four years before making the move to center. He played in two Super Bowls and was an iron man as he started 167 consecutive games, the longest streak in the franchise's history at the time. Advertisement Under the supervision of new coach Jimmy Johnson, then-rookie Mark Stepnoski replaced Rafferty midway through the 1989 season, and Rafferty retired after the season. At his peak - and at a Dallas peak - center John Fitzgerald nicknamed the Cowboys offensive line as the "Four Irishmen and a Scott'' when it was made up by him, Rafferty, Pat Donovan, Jim Cooper and Herb Scott. In total, the 6-4, 256-pound Rafferty won one Super Bowl ring as he appeared in 203 games and started 182 of those. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Tom Rafferty, a Super Bowl-winning OL with the Cowboys, dies at 70
Tom Rafferty, an offensive lineman who won a Super Bowl and played with two Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman over 14 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, has died. He was 70. Rafferty died Thursday in Windsor, Colorado, where he had been hospitalized since early May following a stroke, his daughter, Rachel Powers, told The Dallas Morning News. A year after getting drafted out of Penn State, Rafferty's first season as a starter was at right guard in 1977, which ended with the Cowboys' 27-10 victory over Denver in Super Bowl 12. He played the same position a year later when the Cowboys lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 35-31 in the title game. After a move to center, Rafferty threw one of the key blocks on Tony Dorsett's record 99-yard touchdown run in a 31-27 loss at Minnesota on Jan. 3, 1983. Dallas had 10 men on the field for that famous play. Rafferty's final season was Aikman's rookie year in 1989, when he started eight games at center for a 1-15 team. Rafferty is one of 12 Dallas players to spend at least 14 seasons with the franchise. He was teammates with seven players on that list. Reporting by The Associated Press. recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Fox Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Tom Rafferty, an offensive lineman who won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys, dies at 70
Associated Press WINDSOR, Colo. (AP) — Tom Rafferty, an offensive lineman who won a Super Bowl and played with two Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman over 14 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, has died. He was 70. Rafferty died Thursday in Windsor, Colorado, where he had been hospitalized since early May following a stroke, his daughter, Rachel Powers, told The Dallas Morning News. A year after getting drafted out of Penn State, Rafferty's first season as a starter was at right guard in 1977, which ended with the Cowboys' 27-10 victory over Denver in Super Bowl 12. He played the same position a year later when the Cowboys lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 35-31 in the title game. After a move to center, Rafferty threw one of the key blocks on Tony Dorsett's record 99-yard touchdown run in a 31-27 loss at Minnesota on Jan. 3, 1983. Dallas had 10 men on the field for that famous play. Rafferty's final season was Aikman's rookie year in 1989, when he started eight games at center for a 1-15 team. Rafferty is one of 12 Dallas players to spend at least 14 seasons with the franchise. He was teammates with seven players on that list. ___ AP NFL: recommended in this topic
