Former Penn State football player and team captain Tom Rafferty died Friday, June 6, at the age of 70, the team announced.

Rafferty was an offensive guard for the Nittany Lions from 1973-75, and was named a First-Team All-American in his final season.

Following his collegiate career, Rafferty was selected in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, where he spent his entire 13-year career. He is sixth in Cowboys history with 203 career games played and fourth in starts with 182.

According to Yahoo Sports, Rafferty was hospitalized in May after suffering a stroke.

Rafferty is survived by his wife Donna, children Michael and Rachel, and two grandchildren.

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Michael Siroty

Michael Siroty is a junior from Westfield, New Jersey, majoring in broadcast journalism. When he isn't writing articles or making TikToks for Onward State, Siroty is probably somewhere talking about college sports. You can contact him to discuss your sushi order or music taste on Instagram and X @msiroty or by email at mfs6682@psu.edu.

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