The Dallas Cowboys are mourning the loss of one of their toughest and most underrated warriors, as two-time Super Bowl champion John Fitzgerald has died at 77.
The franchise confirmed Fitzgerald passed away Tuesday morning, honoring him as the “foundation” of head coach Tom Landry’s iconic shotgun offense during the team’s glory years. While he may not have been the flashiest name on the roster, insiders say Fitzgerald was the kind of player who made dynasties possible.
A cornerstone of the Cowboys’ dominance in the 1970s, Fitzgerald appeared in a staggering five Super Bowls. He got his first ring as a backup in 1972 when Dallas took down the Miami Dolphins, but by 1978, he had locked down the starting center role when the Cowboys crushed the Denver Broncos for another championship.
Fitzgerald’s résumé reads like something out of a football fever dream. Over 12 seasons in Dallas, he never once experienced a losing year. He battled through nine NFC Championship games and racked up 19 postseason appearances — a level of consistency most players can only dream of.
Originally drafted in the fourth round in 1970 after playing college ball at Boston, Fitzgerald was initially seen as a defensive piece. But once he found his footing on the offensive line, he became a quiet force in the trenches — earning the respect of teammates and coaches alike.
Despite his massive impact, Fitzgerald never received a Pro Bowl nod — a shocking snub that now feels even more glaring in the wake of his death.
He retired in 1982 as injuries began to pile up, eventually passing the torch to successor Tom Rafferty. Still, his legacy as one of the Cowboys’ most reliable and battle-tested players remains intact.
In a cruel twist of timing, Fitzgerald’s death comes just days before what would have been his 78th birthday — leaving fans reflecting on a career that helped define one of the NFL’s most iconic eras.
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