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 four years for coach Joe Paterno at Penn State University earning All-American honors in 1975.

Professional career

Rafferty's entire professional career was spent with the Dallas Cowboys (1976-1989). He served as the team's starting guard for four seasons before switching to center in 1981 where he continued as the starter until he retired following the 1989 season. Known to his teammates as "Raff," Rafferty played in 221 total games for the Cowboys, including 167 consecutive games, which at the time was more than any other Cowboy in history. He appeared in 18 post-season games and 2 Super Bowls (XII and XIII).

Rafferty was Inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame in 1998, and was named to the Dallas Cowboys All-Time Team in 2003. 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.

Rafferty lives with his wife Donna and their children Michael and Rachel in Keller, Texas, where he is currently a regional sales manager at Sports Supply Group, a Dallas sports supply company. He was stricken with the neurological disorder, transverse myelitis, suddenly in April 2008. The disorder has confined him to a walker and wheelchair while he undergoes physical therapy to re-learn how to walk.

See also

• List of Penn State Football All-Americans

References