Tom Lafferty, a former offensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys who spent 14 seasons with the team and won a Super Bowl championship, passed away at the age of 70 on Thursday. He had been hospitalized in Windsor, Colorado, after suffering a stroke earlier in May, according to his daughter’s statement to the Dallas Morning News.
Drafted from Pennsylvania as the 119th overall pick, Lafferty spent his first five NFL seasons playing guard before switching to center for the remainder of his career. Out of 203 possible games, he started in 182, including an impressive streak of 167 consecutive starts.
Brad Sham, the longtime Cowboys radio broadcaster, noted that although Lafferty’s size (6 feet 3 inches, 256 pounds) wouldn’t fit a modern offensive lineman’s mold, coach Tom Landry valued his ability to pull linemen and lead screen passes for Tony Dorsett. Lafferty notably made a crucial block during Dorsett’s NFL record 99-yard touchdown run against the Minnesota Vikings on January 3, 1983, a play where Dallas surprisingly had only 10 players on the field.
For 17 years, Lafferty battled lateral osteomyelitis, a condition affecting the central nervous system. Despite a 48-day hospital stay, he refused to use a wheelchair and worked hard to regain his ability to walk, inspiring his daughter Rachel Powers who recalled his determination despite losing sensation below the waist.
Lafferty is among only 12 players in Cowboys history to have played at least 14 seasons with the team. His second season saw Dallas defeat the Denver Broncos to win Super Bowl XII, although they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIII the following year. His final season in 1989 coincided with the rookie year of Hall of Famer Troy Aikman and the team’s 1-15 record. Throughout his career, Lafferty played alongside two Hall of Fame quarterbacks, Roger Staubach and Aikman.
Fan Take: Tom Lafferty’s legacy is a testament to the grit and dedication that define the Dallas Cowboys’ storied history. His impact on the field and his battle off it remind NFL fans of the resilience and heart it takes to compete at the highest level, inspiring future generations of players and supporters alike.
