Tom Rafferty

NFL player


DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1954|8|2
Birthplace= Syracuse, NY
DateOfDeath=
Deathplace=
Height_ft=6
Height_in=3
Weight_lbs=256
Position=C/G
number=64
College=Penn State
DraftedYear=1976
DraftedRound=4 / Pick 119
DatabaseFootball=RAFFETOM01
PFR=
Honors=Greater Syracuse
Sports Hall of Fame [http://www.syracusehalloffame.com/pages/frame.html]
Dallas Cowboys
All-Time Team [http://nflhistory.net/shared/alltimeteam.asp?Team=17]
years=1976-1989
teams=Dallas Cowboys
ProBowls=
HOF=

Thomas Michael Rafferty (born August 2 1954 in Syracuse, New York) is a former American football offensive lineman in the NFL. He attended Fayetteville-Manlius High School in Manlius, New York, and went on to start 4 years for coach Joe Paterno at Penn State University earning All-American honors in 1975.

Rafferty's entire pro career in the NFL was spent with the Dallas Cowboys (1976-1989). Rafferty was the team's starting guard for four seasons when he switched to center in 1981 where he continued as the starter until he retired following the 1989 season. Rafferty played in 221 games for the Cowboys including 18 post-season games and 167 in a row. He delivered a key block that paved the way for Tony Dorsett's record 99-yard run against Minnesota on Monday Night Football in January 1983.

He was named to the Dallas Cowboys All-Time Team in 2003. [http://nflhistory.net/shared/alltimeteam.asp?Team=17]

He is the only Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman to block for both Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman, and one of only two players (Ed "Too Tall" Jones being the other) to be a teammate of both hall of fame quarterbacks.

Personal

Rafferty earned his Bachelor of Science in physical education from Penn State University in 1976, and later earned an MBA from the University of Dallas.

He and his wife Donna live in Southlake, Texas, where he is currently a Regional Sales Manager for a Dallas sports supply company.

ee also

*List of Penn State Football All-Americans

External links