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

Rafferty played in 221 combined regular-season and playoff games at guard and center from 1976-89, bridging the careers of Hall of Fame quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.

Rafferty's daughter, Rachel Powers, confirmed his passing Thursday in Windsor, Colorado, following a stroke. He had been hospitalized since early May.

A fourth-round draft pick out of Penn State in 1976, Rafferty started in the Cowboys' 27-10 win against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII and in their 35-31 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIII.

On Jan. 3, 1983, Rafferty's block helped spring Tony Dorsett's NFL-record 99-yard touchdown run against the Minnesota Vikings .

Rafferty wo

See Full Page