Former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman John Fitzgerald has died, the organization has announced. He was 77.
Fitzgerald played in the NFL from 1970 to 1981, spending all 12 of his pro football seasons with the Cowboys.
Advertisement
Prior to playing in the NFL, Fitzgerald starred on the offensive line and defensive line at Boston College. He was inducted into the BC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982.
Fitzgerald was drafted by the Cowboys in the fourth round of the 1970 NFL Draft.
He earned the starting center job for Dallas in 1973 and held it through the 1980 season, before injuries sidelined him for the 1981 season. He then retired in January 1982.
Across 12 seasons in the NFL, Fitzgerald appeared in 137 games, making 109 starts.
A Massachusetts native, Fitzgerald lined up at center for Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach. He handled the transition to a shotgun offense well, according to the Cowboys official site.
Advertisement
John Fitzgerald helped the Cowboys reach the Super Bowl five times during his career and helped Dallas win a pair of Lombardi Trophies.
He is described by the Cowboys site as being a part of “a great lineage of centers who have worn the Star, a group that includes Dave Manders, [Tom] Rafferty, who took over at center in 1981, Mark Stepnoski, Andre Gurode and Travis Frederick.”
Read the original article on pennlive.com. Add pennlive.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.