Former Dallas Cowboys starting offensive lineman and [Penn State](https://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/) All-American Tom Rafferty has died, [the Cowboys announced](https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/past-present-tom-rafferty-passes-away-at-70) on Friday. He was 70 years old.
Rafferty had battled several health issues in recent years and reportedly suffered a stroke earlier this week.
Tom Rafferty played guard and center during his time with the Cowboys after being drafted by Dallas out of Penn State. He was a starting guard for the Cowboys when they won Super Bowl XII.
"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 Cowboys said in a statement.
“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.”
Rafferty played guard for the Cowboys for four seasons, before injuries forced him to move to center. He ended up being the starting center for Dallas for nearly the entire 1980s. He blocked for legendary Cowboys quarterbacks Roger Staubach, Danny White and Troy Aikman.
Rafferty ranks sixth in team history with 203 career games played. He made 182 starts, which is the fourth-most in Cowboys history behind only Jason Witten, Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones and Emmitt Smith.
Prior to joining the Cowboys, Rafferty was a starting offensive lineman for Penn State for three seasons. He helped the Nittany Lions to a 12-0 record in 1973 and earned first-team All-American honors in 1975. He was also a team captain that year.