Legendary Cowboys Lineman Tom Rafferty’s Unexpected Passing at 70 Leaves Fans in Shock

Tom Rafferty’s passing at 70 feels like the closing of a grand chapter in Dallas Cowboys lore — a man who was the unsung backbone of the offensive line for 14 seasons. Drafted from Penn State and molded by Tom Landry’s vision, Rafferty might not have had the flashiest stats, but his grit and consistency carved a legacy that still ripples through Cowboys history. I mean, 167 straight starts? That kind of durability is almost mythical in the brutal NFL trenches. Beyond the gridiron, his courageous battle with transverse myelitis and refusal to be sidelined by adversity speaks volumes about his spirit. So many memories—the block that set up Tony Dorsett’s legendary 99-yard touchdown, the Super Bowl triumph, and even playing alongside legends like Staubach and Aikman—paint the picture of a truly remarkable athlete and man. This isn’t just a tribute; it’s a nod to the heart and hustle that defined Tom Rafferty. LEARN MORE

“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.”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.

Rafferty had been hospitalized in Windsor, Colorado since suffering a stroke in early May, his daughter told the Dallas Morning News.

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.AdvertisementRafferty 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.