Former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman John Fitzgerald has passed away at the age of 77, the Dallas Cowboys franchise confirmed.
A Cowboys legend says goodbye
The two-time Super Bowl champion died Tuesday morning, although the cause of death was not disclosed.
Fitzgerald spent his entire 12-season NFL career with the Cowboys, becoming a key piece in Tom Landry’s offense. He played in 137 regular-season games, primarily as a center, and appeared in five Super Bowls.
After serving as a backup on the 1972 Super Bowl team, he earned the starting role in 1973 and held it for eight consecutive seasons.
Selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, Fitzgerald finished his career with nine NFC Championship appearances and 19 playoff games, highlighting the Cowboys’ sustained success during his tenure.
He started in Super Bowl XII (1978), when Dallas defeated the Denver Broncos 27-10.
Fitzgerald reached the NFL after playing at Boston College, where he lined up on both the offensive and defensive lines.
The Cowboys’ official website described him as a pillar of Landry’s offense. Remarkably, he was never part of a losing team and reached the NFL playoffs in 11 seasons.
In his final year in 1981, he did not see game action due to a knee injury that placed him on injured reserve. He officially retired the following January.
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