RESPECT!! Longtime Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman and Super Bowl XII champion Tom Rafferty died Thursday at 70.

Dallas Cowboys center Tom Rafferty in 1988.

Tom Rafferty, a longtime offensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys and Super Bowl XII champion, died Thursday at the age of 70, multiple outlets confirmed Friday. The former NFL player reportedly suffered a stroke earlier this week but had been hospitalized since early May, per the Dallas Morning News.

The Cowboys issued a statement on Rafferty’s death on Friday.

“The Dallas Cowboys mourn the passing of Tom Rafferty, who was a fixture on the Cowboys offensive line for 14 seasons. His work ethic, durability and versatility shined through as he was at the core of a line that brought Dallas a Super Bowl XII championship over the Denver Broncos,” the team wrote.

“He was a shining example of being a great, trusted teammate and champion, always approaching the game and his role by doing the right thing. Among the many memorable moments of his career, one stands out, as he helped clear the way for Tony Dorsett’s 99-yard run in 1983. Our hearts go out to his family and friends. He will be missed.”

The Cowboys selected Rafferty out of Penn State in the fourth round of the 1977 draft. He started in the team’s Super Bowl XII win against the Broncos, as well as in their Super Bowl XIII loss vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He worked in sports equipment sales after retiring from the league at the end of the 1989 season. Overall, he played 203 career games with 182 starts, the sixth-most and fourth-most in team history, respectively.

Related Posts

🔥 BREAKING: TIME UPDATE CONFIRMED: Colts vs. 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium just shifted, and the new kickoff window is already being talked about like a chess move, not a routine schedule tweak. Fans are connecting dots around preparation rhythms and late game legs, because this timing can quietly change who controls the pace. INSIDE: one overlooked edge is emerging.

The countdown is no longer speculation. The NFL has officially confirmed the kickoff time for the highly anticipated matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco…

🔥 BREAKING: TIME UPDATE CONFIRMED: Cowboys vs. Chargers at AT&T Stadium just shifted, and the new kickoff window is already being framed as a hidden lever in how this game will feel and unfold. Fans are reading between the lines, because this timing change affects more than travel and tailgate. INSIDE: one quiet advantage is starting to tilt expectations.

The schedule is locked, the clock is officially set, and one of the most attention drawing matchups of the NFL season is now fully defined. When the…

🔥 BREAKING: TIME UPDATE CONFIRMED: Titans vs. Chiefs at Nissan Stadium just shifted, and the new kickoff window is quietly rewriting how this matchup is being read across the league. One subtle scheduling change is already sparking talk about preparation, crowd rhythm, and a late game edge that does not show up on any stat sheet. INSIDE: the timing twist is creating a storyline nobody expected.

The countdown has officially begun, and the timing could not be more compelling. With the kickoff time now confirmed, the upcoming clash between the Tennessee Titans and…

🔥 BREAKING: TIME UPDATE CONFIRMED: Bears vs. Packers at Soldier Field just moved, and the new slot is already stirring a very specific kind of tension around this rivalry. Fans are calling it a “perfect storm” timing change, and the whispers about who benefits most are getting louder by the hour. INSIDE: one hidden advantage is quietly shifting expectations.

The clock is finally set, and with it comes a familiar tension that never fades. When the Chicago Bears host the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field,…

🚨 INSIDE NFL EMOTIONAL REACTION: Travis Kelce finally broke his silence on the Chiefs’ brutal season and Patrick Mahomes’ devastating injury, offering a raw reaction that revealed frustration, loyalty, and concern far deeper than fans expected. What he shared goes beyond one loss or one setback, hinting at a defining moment for this core and leaving many wondering how this chapter will reshape Kansas City’s future.

Find out what he said.

🚨 DEPTH CHART ALERT: The return of the Cowboys’ 2024 breakout star is quietly changing everything behind the scenes. Coaches are now facing uncomfortable decisions, and Trevon Diggs may no longer be as untouchable as before. What once looked like a strength could soon become a brutal internal battle.

There’s a real chance that Trevon Diggs never plays for the Dallas Cowboys again, especially with a 2024 breakout star returning.