A respected offensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys from 1976 to 1989, Tom Rafferty succumbed to a stroke on June 5, 2025, at the age of 70.
Tom Rafferty is survived by his wife of 48 years, Donna Rafferty, and their children, Rachel Powers and Michael Rafferty, as well as two grandchildren.
Rafferty’s professional life was anything but low-key; yet, off the field, the NFL player maintained a private personal life, keeping his family out of the media spotlight.
Tom Rafferty married his wife, Donna Rafferty, on June 20, 1976, shortly after being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round out of Penn State.
The longtime married couple of 48 years endured the highs and lows of Tom’s 14-year NFL career and beyond.
Tom and Donna were about to celebrate their 49th anniversary in a couple of days, but Tom passed away just before
The couple settled in Keller, Texas, where they raised their kids.
After retiring from the NFL in 1990, Rafferty transitioned into a career in sports equipment sales, working as a regional sales manager for Sports Supply Group.
Even as he remained involved in the sports world, he and Donna kept their personal lives private, focusing on family and community rather than public attention.
In recent years, they moved to Windsor, Colorado, to be closer to their grandchildren.
Tom Rafferty’s Daughter, Rachel Rafferty Powers, Reported On His Health Condition!
Tom and Donna Rafferty raised two children, Michael and Rachel, who grew up largely out of the public eye.
Despite their father’s prominence as a Dallas Cowboys legend, Michael and Rachel were raised in a household that prioritized privacy.
His daughter Rachel Rafferty Powers has been married since October 7, 2017; however, details surrounding her husband are unknown.
Similarly, thus far, the specific details about Michael and Rachel’s careers remain private.
Recently, it was Rachel Rafferty Powers who was mentioned in reports following her father’s passing in June 2025, indicating she was the one who communicated about his health struggles.
She noted that Tom had been hospitalized since early May 2025 before succumbing to a stroke at age 70.
In 2008, Rafferty was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a rare neurological disorder that left him without sensation below his waist and required him to relearn how to walk.
Throughout this ordeal, Donna was with him at all times. As she described in a 2008 interview, Tom’s resilience reflected the “offensive lineman mentality.”
Donna said,
“He’s never been angry. A little frustrated sometimes, but not angry. This is what linemen do. They work extremely hard, and they don’t get praised a lot. That’s what Tom is like”
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Tom Rafferty played college football at Penn State University under legendary coach Joe Paterno.
- He won Super Bowl XII with the Cowboys in 1978.
