Latest news with #TomRafferty
Newsweek
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Former Cowboys Super Bowl Winner Passes Away
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An anchor of the great Dallas Cowboys teams of the late 1970s and early 1980s has passed away. Tom Rafferty, an offensive lineman who protected quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman over a 14-year career in Dallas, died Thursday. Rafferty was 70 years old when he suffered a stroke in Windsor, Colorado. More news: Decorated Two-Time Super Bowl Champion, MLB Outfielder Dies at 84 At one point, Rafferty played in more consecutive games (167) than any other player in Cowboys history. He spent his entire NFL career with the franchise, and played in 221 career games in total. Quarterback Steve Pelluer #16 of the Dallas Cowboys stands behind center Tom Rafferty #64 during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on September 4, 1988 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Quarterback Steve Pelluer #16 of the Dallas Cowboys stands behind center Tom Rafferty #64 during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on September 4, 1988 in Pittsburgh, undersized lineman for his era — listed at 6-foot-3, 256 pounds — Rafferty earned All-American honors at Penn State in 1975. After he lettered in his final three seasons under head coach Joe Paterno, the Cowboys drafted Rafferty in the fourth round of the 1976 draft. The Cowboys would reach the Super Bowl in Rafferty's second year in the league. It was his first season as a starter in the NFL, and it culminated in his only championship when the Cowboys defeated the Denver Broncos 27-10 in Super Bowl XII. More news: Former Bears Lineman, NFL Hall of Famer, Dies at 67 After Long ALS Battle Rafferty returned to the right guard position the following season, which ended with the Cowboys' 35-31 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIII. As we kick off our #MNF history series this week, we're throwing it back to Jan. 1983 when @Tony_Dorsett made the @NFL's first ever 99-yard rushing touchdown. Nearly 36 years after one of the game's most iconic runs, ______ tied the record with a 99-yard TD of his own.👇 — Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) June 10, 2025 In a memorable 1983 play, Rafferty provided a block that helped Tony Dorsett run for a record 99-yard touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. More news: Former Orioles, Twins Pitcher, Cincinnati Native, Dies Unexpectedly at 54 Rafferty's final season in the NFL, 1989, was the first for the future Hall of Fame quarterback Aikman. Rafferty started eight games at center for a 1-15 Cowboys team. After retiring, Rafferty received his MBA degree from the University of Dallas, and worked as a regional sales manager for a sports supply company in the Dallas area. More news: World Series Champion Pitcher, Coach, Dies at 60 In 2008, Rafferty was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder that left him with no feeling below the waist. Yet he taught himself how to walk again after refusing a wheelchair, according to the Dallas Morning News. A native of Syracuse, New York, Rafferty is a member of the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame (inducted in 1998), and the Fayetteville-Manlius Hall of Distinction (inducted in 2000). Rafferty is survived by his wife Donna, their two children, and two grandchildren. For more NFL news, visit Newsweek Sports.
Fox News
07-06-2025
- 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
07-06-2025
- 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
07-06-2025
- 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
06-06-2025
- 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
