Overview

• Rafferty spent his entire 14-season NFL career in Dallas from 1976 to 1989 and was the starting guard in the Cowboys’ 27-10 victory in Super Bowl XII.
• He appeared in 203 games with 182 starts, placing him among the franchise leaders in both categories and showcasing his enduring durability.
• He had been hospitalized since early May after suffering a stroke and had previously relearned to walk following a 2008 transverse myelitis diagnosis.
• Rafferty protected Hall of Fame quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman and delivered key blocks, including on Tony Dorsett’s record 99-yard touchdown run.
• After earning an MBA, he forged a thriving career in sports equipment sales and is survived by his wife Donna, son Michael, daughter Rachel, and two grandchildren.