Latest news with #TonyDorsett
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.
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Tom Rafferty, an offensive lineman who won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys, dies at 70
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:
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Super Bowl winner dead after being hospitalized in May from a stroke
Former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Tom Rafferty, who won Super Bowl XII with the team, passed away in Windsor, Colorado on Thursday at the age of 70. Rafferty had been hospitalized since early May after suffering a stroke. His daughter, Rachel, confirmed his passing. Across a 14-year NFL career, Rafferty took part in 221 games in the regular season and the playoffs. A native of Syracuse, New York, Rafferty played college football under Joe Paterno at Penn State. He was selected 119th overall in the fourth round of the 1976 by the Cowboys - the only team he ever played for in his career. Rafferty was a steady presence on the Cowboys' offensive line - bridging a gap between two Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks: Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman. The center started two Super Bowls for the Cowboys: Super Bowl XII, when they defeated the Denver Broncos, and Super Bowl XIII, when they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the 1983 season, Rafferty laid some crucial blocks to help Dallas running back Tony Dorsett set an NFL record with a 99-yard touchdown run. After retiring from football, Rafferty worked in sports equipment sales as a second job. According to the Dallas Morning News, Rafferty managed to teach himself to walk again in middle age after a neurological disorder left him without any feeling below the waist. Rafferty, a member of the Greater Syracuse Hall of Fame, is survived by his wife, daughter, son, and two grandchildren.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Tom Rafferty, Cowboys OL from 1976-89, dies at 70
June 6 - Longtime Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman and Super Bowl XII champion Tom Rafferty died Thursday at 70. Rafferty played in 221 combined regular season and playoff games at guard and center from 1976-89, bridging the careers of Hall of Fame quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman. Rafferty's daughter, Rachel Powers, confirmed his passing Thursday in Windsor, Colo., following a stroke. He had been hospitalized since early May. A fourth-round draft pick out of Penn State in 1976, Rafferty started the Cowboys' 27-10 win against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII and their 35-31 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIII. On Jan. 3, 1983, Rafferty's block helped spring Tony Dorsett's NFL-record 99-yard touchdown run against the Minnesota Vikings. Rafferty worked in sports equipment sales following his retirement from the NFL. He is survived by his wife, their son and daughter and two grandchildren. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles WR Devonta Smith becomes 5th player to win Super Bowl, college national title and Heisman Trophy
DeVonta Smith joined some exclusive football company with the Philadelphia Eagles' 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. The fourth-year pro became the fifth player to win a Super Bowl championship, a college football national championship and a Heisman Trophy during his career. The others to collect that trifecta of accomplishments are Charles Woodson, Reggie Bush, Marcus Allen and Tony Dorsett. Smith first won a national championship at Alabama in 2017, then again in 2020. That season, he also won the Heisman, finishing ahead of quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence and Mac Jones (his Crimson Tide teammate) in voting. Woodson earned his Heisman Trophy, famously beating out Peyton Manning, and a national championship at Michigan in 1997. He won Super Bowl 45 with the Green Bay Packers in 2011. Bush was on two national championship teams with USC in 2003 and 2004. He won the 2005 Heisman, which he forfeited amid an NCAA investigation and sanctions against the Trojans' football program. But the award was returned to him when name, following image and likeness (NIL) endorsements being allowed for NCAA athletes. Bush was also on the 2010 New Orleans Saints team that won Super Bowl 44. Welcome Back, Reggie!Congratulations to @reggiebush on his return to the Heisman family. From outstanding performances on the field to moving with pride and integrity off the field, this is a moment richly 2005 Heisman Trophy winner, The University of Southern… — The Heisman Trophy (@HeismanTrophy) April 25, 2024 Allen was the 1981 Heisman winner, finishing ahead of Herschel Walker. He was on a split national championship team at USC in 1978, which was voted No. 1 in the UPI coaches poll while Alabama got the nod in the AP poll. And he won Super Bowl 18 (in addition to MVP honors) with the Los Angeles Raiders. Finally, Tony Dorsett finished off the 1978 NFL season with the Dallas Cowboys winning Super Bowl 13. He won a national championship with Pittsburgh in 1976 and also earned the Heisman that season, getting 701 of 839 first-place votes. Smith finished with four receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown in the Eagles' Super Bowl victory.
