Latest news with #SuperBowlXII
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.
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.
New York Post
06-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Tom Rafferty, Super Bowl-winning Cowboys lineman, dead at 70
Former Cowboys lineman Tom Rafferty died Thursday, the team announced. He was 70. Rafferty had been hospitalized since May after suffering a stroke, and he died in Windsor, Colo., his daughter, Rachel Powers, confirmed. Advertisement Rafferty played on the Dallas offensive line for an impressive 14 seasons, protecting the likes of legendary quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman and clearing runways for running backs such as Tony Dorsett and Herschel Walker. Tom Rafferty spent 14 seasons with the Cowboys and is among the top players in the franchise's history for starts and games played. Getty Images He became a Super Bowl champion in 1978 when the Cowboys took down the Broncos for Super Bowl XII in what was their second title in franchise history. Rafferty started at right guard in the win. Advertisement At the same position, Rafferty also started in the team's 35-31 loss to the Steelers in Super Bowl XIII. After some injuries within the team, the 6-foot-3, 256-pound Rafferty was moved to center and went on to start at the position for nearly a decade. 'Three weeks turned into nine years,' Rafferty said of the position switch. Advertisement Tom Rafferty lines up at center — where he played for nearly a decade through the 1980s. Getty Images Born in Syracuse, Rafferty attended Penn State before being selected by the Cowboys in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft. From 1976 through his retirement in 1989, he would play in 203 career games, all for the Cowboys, and he started in all but 21 of them. Advertisement His 203 games played are sixth in team history, and the 182 starts come in at fourth — only behind Jason Witten, Ed Jones and Emmitt Smith. Following his retirement from the NFL, Rafferty worked in sports equipment sales.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Josh Sweat on not being the MVP: I should've had it; I could've had it
Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat had one of the all-time best defensive performances in a Super Bowl. He did not become the 11th defensive player (including co-MVPs Harvey Martin and Randy White of Super Bowl XII) to win the MVP award, though. Quarterback Jalen Hurts instead won that, the 34th time in 59 Super Bowls a quarterback has been MVP. My MVP vote went to Sweat and at least two others among the 16 voters also had Sweat on their ballot. The fan vote had Sweat third behind Cooper DeJean and Hurts. The NFL no longer announces the places of the other finishers, so it is unknown whether Sweat finished second. 'I should've had it,' Sweat said, via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. 'I could've had it. It's all good, though.' Sweat had six tackles, 2.5 sacks and other pressures that led to an interception and allowed other defenders to get sacks of Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs quarterback was sacked a career-high six times. Sweat took advantage of Joe Thuney, who made the All-Pro team at left guard but moved to left tackle in Week 15 to stabilize the position. For the first time, Thuney looked like what he is. 'He don't play tackle. He's a guard,' Sweat said. 'That's all it was. But we don't underestimate anybody.' Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio called Sweat's performance "awesome." It's too bad it didn't win him the MVP award, but Sweat isn't sweating it. He will get paid in free agency either by the Eagles or some other team.
NBC Sports
11-02-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Josh Sweat on not being the MVP: I should've had it; I could've had it
Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat had one of the all-time best defensive performances in a Super Bowl. He did not become the 11th defensive player (including co-MVPs Harvey Martin and Randy White of Super Bowl XII) to win the MVP award, though. Quarterback Jalen Hurts instead won that, the 34th time in 59 Super Bowls a quarterback has been MVP. My MVP vote went to Sweat and at least two others among the 16 voters also had Sweat on their ballot. The fan vote had Sweat third behind Cooper DeJean and Hurts. The NFL no longer announces the places of the other finishers, so it is unknown whether Sweat finished second. 'I should've had it,' Sweat said, via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. 'I could've had it. It's all good, though.' Sweat had 2.5 sacks, six tackles and pressures that led to an interception and allowed other defenders to get sacks of Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs quarterback was sacked a career-high six times. Sweat took advantage of Joe Thuney, who made the All-Pro team at left guard but moved to left tackle in Week 15 to stabilize the position. For the first time, Thuney looked like what he is. 'He don't play tackle. He's a guard,' Sweat said. 'That's all it was. But we don't underestimate anybody.' Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio called Sweat's performance 'awesome.' It's too bad it didn't win him the MVP award, but Sweat isn't sweating it. He will get paid in free agency either by the Eagles or some other team.
