Tom Rafferty, better known as "Raff" by his teammates, passed away on June 5, 2025, at the age of 70. Tom was an offensive lineman for Penn State from 1972-1975. However, he is best known for his NFL career as the center for the Dallas Cowboys. Tom played at Penn State during a time when it was "Offensive Linemen U". There were a tremendous number of offensive linemen during the early to mid-1970s that went on to play NFL football. Tom was a 4th round pick in the 1976 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He played his entire NFL career with Dallas, first as an offensive guard, then the center position. Tom played in 167 consecutive games from 1976-1987. Penn State teammates Tommy O'Dell, John Quinn, Ron Coder, Greg Buttle and Brad Benson share their thoughts on Tom Rafferty.
Talking Penn State Football History: Tom Rafferty Tribute