Tom Rafferty

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Tom Rafferty

Date of birth:	August 2, 1954 (1954-08-02) (age 53)
Place of birth:	Syracuse, NY
Career information
Position(s):	C/G
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	256 lb (116 kg)
College:	Penn State
NFL Draft:	1976 / Round: 4 / Pick 119
Organizations
As player:
1976-1989	Dallas Cowboys
Career highlights and Awards
Honors:	Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame [1] Dallas Cowboys All-Time Team [2]
Stats at DatabaseFootball.com

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. [3]

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.

[edit] 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.