Cowboys offensive lineman Tom Rafferty, who played 14 seasons with Dallas, dies at 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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Von Miller Sends First Message to Commanders Fans Following Contract Report
Von Miller Sends First Message to Commanders Fans Following Contract Report originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Von Miller has had a storied career. He's played 13 seasons in the NFL and is regarded as one of the best linebackers of his generation. After spending a decade with the Denver Broncos, Miller moved onto the Los Angeles Rams for one season. And most recently, he played three seasons with the Buffalo Bills. The now 36 year old has won two Super Bowls (2015 and 2021) and is the active sacks leader (129.5), ranking No. 16 in sacks in NFL history. He was also named Super Bowl MVP in 2015. And now, Miller will reportedly play for his fourth team of his career, the Washington Commanders. After being released by the Bills in early March, it was reported on Wednesday that Miller will be signing a one-year deal with the Commanders. Immediately following the news, Miller took to social media, sending his first message to Commanders fans. "DC ...What's good?" Miller posted to his official X account. Miller also posted two images of himself in a Commanders jersey on his official Instagram account. Miller will join a Commanders team that is on the rise and currently possesses a mix of young talent and talented veterans. Commanders quarterback, Jayden Daniels, is getting set to enter his second season in the NFL with high expectations. As for the defense, Miller will join fellow veteran LB, Bobby Wagner. The Commanders also have veteran cornerback, Marshon Lattimore on their roster. Both Wagner and Lattimore will enter their second season with the Commanders. The Commanders finished last season with a 12-5 record, their first season above .500 since 2015. They made it to the NFC Championship before getting eliminated by the eventual Super Bowl champion, Philadelphia Eagles. Miller's contract won't become official until he passes a physical with the team, and time will tell if he'll be ready and available for the Commanders first preseason game in just three weeks on August 8. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Charles Barkley makes ex-Mavericks' Luka Doncic admission amid Lakers, LeBron James drama
The Dallas Mavericks have been one of the better teams in the NBA recently, but their decision to trade Luka Doncic last year will always be questionable. Whether it be this year, in a few years, or 30 years from now, that trade will be talked about for a very long time. However, for Doncic, all he can do is go out there and attempt to play the best possible basketball he can. There's no debate that he's one of the better five players in the NBA, at worst. But his situation with LeBron James in the Lakers is a bit different from what it was with the Mavericks. While he had Kyrie Irving, everybody knew that Doncic was the star, including Irving, who said multiple times that this was Doncic's team. For James, however, he's used to being in the spotlight, and rightfully so, given he's arguably the greatest player to ever play the game. Some believe that it's Doncic's team now, and the Lakers are acting accordingly, with some of their recent comments and reports indicating as such. When recently speaking about the situation, NBA legend Charles Barkley said that it's his team now, not James', and that the Lakers have many bigger issues to face. "He's on the downside of his career. It's Luka's team going forward." "But, hey, they've got bigger problems than those guys," Barkley said, per Yahoo. "They've got to worry about the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Houston Rockets, and the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers are going to have a good team. But everything in the West starts with OKC, the Houston Rockets and the Denver Nuggets." MORE: It remains uncertain if the Lakers' front office plans to put a competent team around the former Mavericks star during the remainder of the offseason. Doncic is clearly good enough to win a championship, and that was evident by the 2024 season. However, they also have to be smart in this regard. The Mavericks understand they have a star for the next decade if things go as planned, so emptying the asset pool for a below-average player or someone who won't get them over the hump instantly probably isn't the right decision.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Chargers predicted to acquire former No. 4 overall draft pick teetering on bust status
The Los Angeles Chargers made several improvements to their roster this offseason with the mindset of adding more weapons for Justin Herbert. But they weren't able to do much at the tight end position. Colston Loveland was believed to be the team's top first-round draft target as he played at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh, but he went to the Chicago Bears with the No. 10 overall pick, much higher than anyone expected him to go. The team then had to pivot and ended up settling on Oronde Gadsden II in the fifth round. Gadsden has already turned heads since being drafted by the team and could turn into a huge value this season. But with only the rookie to go along with Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin, more help could be found. The Atlanta Falcons have never gotten what they hoped for out of Kyle Pitts, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and could choose to part ways with him before the season starts. According to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the team has no current plans to extend Pitts, leading to ideas that he could be traded. David Latham of Last Word on Sports took to that idea and came up with some potential landing spots for Pitts, listing the Chargers among that group. "The Los Angeles Chargers have arguably the league's weakest group of tight ends. Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin are both unremarkable veterans, and Justin Herbert could use someone with more upside in this passing attack. Kyle Pitts may not be the safest bet, but the Falcons tight end offers plenty of promise. Head coach Jim Harbaugh excels at getting the most out of his players, so perhaps a change of scenery could have Pitts looking like his dominant Florida self", wrote Latham. It would depend on what the Falcons would ask for in return for Pitts, but this is a move that could make sense for the Chargers, a team that, despite its efforts, still needs more offensive firepower. Pitts is still just 24 years old, but after turning in a solid rookie season in 2021, he's averaged just 42.6 receptions across his last three seasons and with the Falcons having turnover within the coaching staff and at the quarterback position, it has thrown off his trajectory. The Chargers have a much more stable situation with Harbaugh and Herbert and could provide Pitts with the type of offense he can excel in, particularly one with only so many playmakers on the roster as of right now. If the Falcons are really keen on selling, this would be a move for the Chargers to at least check in on. MORE CHARGERS CONTENT Chargers should turn to familiar face following terrible Mike Williams news Chargers-Bills trade idea brings L.A. $24 million weapon for Justin Herbert Chargers predicted to select wide receiver high in first round after miserable 2025 season 4 Chargers starters who will be playing their final season with team in 2025 Chargers rookie gets huge respect, ranked ahead of Ashton Jeanty by former 3-time Pro Bowler
