Tom Rafferty, Super Bowl Champion with the Dallas Cowboys, Passes Away

Tom Rafferty, Cowboys Legend, Passes Away

The world of American football mourns the loss of Tom Rafferty, former offensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys and Super Bowl XII champion, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 70.

Rafferty played a total of 221 games, including regular season and playoffs, in the guard and center positions between 1976 and 1989. During his career, he was a pillar in protecting quarterbacks of the stature of Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman, both members of the Hall of Fame.

His daughter, Rachel Powers, confirmed Rafferty’s death in Windsor, Colorado, after suffering a stroke. He had been hospitalized since the beginning of May.

Offensive lineman Tom Rafferty played his entire 14-year career with the Cowboys, winning a Super Bowl title in 1978, while playing in front of Hall of Fame quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman throughout his career.Selected in the fourth round of the 1976 draft, coming from Penn State, Rafferty was a starter in the Cowboys’ 27-10 victory against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII and in the 35-31 defeat against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIII.

On January 3, 1983, a Rafferty block was key to Tony Dorsett’s 99-yard touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings, a record in the NFL.

Following his retirement from the NFL, Rafferty went into the business of selling sports equipment.

He is survived by his wife, his children, and two grandchildren.