Welcome back to our series covering the best Dallas Cowboys players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.
As we reach the midway point of the 60s, we've got one of the most durable offensive linemen in franchise history here at No. 64, and his versatility can't be overlooked either. But before we break things down, let's first have a look at everyone who's donned this digit for America's Team over the years.
- Jim Arneson, G/C
- Earl Bostick, OL
- Jonathan Cooper, G
- Jorge Diaz, G
- Bob Grottkau, G
- Halvor Hagen, OL/DE
- Montrae Holland, G
- Mitch Johnson, OT
- George Lilja, C
- Tony Liscio, OT/G
- Tom Rafferty, G/C
- Greg Senat, OT
- Dakoda Shepley, OT
- Jim Ray Smith, G
- Daleroy Stewart, DT
- Brian Waters, G
From an overall standpoint, our selection certainly isn't the most decorated player on this list as far as individual accolades are concerned, as Jim Ray Smith earned five trips to the Pro Bowl and five total All-Pro selections, while Brian Waters earned six Pro Bowl selections and a pair of First-Team All-Pro nods.
But as all of those achievements came with other teams, with Smith earning all of his with the Cleveland Browns and Waters earning the first four of his five Pro Bowl selections with the Kansas City Chiefs and the last with the New England Patriots, we're obviously going in a different direction.
And that direction takes us to Tom Rafferty.
Tom Rafferty is one of just seven players in Dallas Cowboys history to appear in 200 games
A First-Team All-American at Penn State in 1975, Rafferty was taken by Dallas in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft with the 119th overall selection.
He spent his rookie campaign backing up right guard Blaine Nye, but when the two-time Pro Bowler opted to retire ahead of the 1977 season, Rafferty took slid into the starting lineup and helped the Cowboys rank first in total yards per game (343.7) and second in scoring (24.6) en route to winning their second Super Bowl.
The Syracuse native remained at right guard for several season, but when third-year center Robert Shaw suffered what turned out to be a career-ending knee injury in 1981, Rafferty moved to the middle of the offensive line and remained there for the rest of his career, which ultimately came to a close following the 1989 season, thus making him Troy Aikman's first center before handing the role off to Mark Stepnoski.
In 14 seasons with Dallas, Rafferty appeared in 203 regular-season games, and he remains one of only seven players in franchise history to hit the 200-game mark, a list that currently shakes out as such:
- Jason Witten: 255
- L.P. LaDouceur: 253
- Ed "Too Tall" Jones: 224
- Bill Bates: 217
- Randy White: 209
- Tom Rafferty: 203
- Emmitt Smith: 201
That's a nice group of players to be associated with, don't you think? Rafferty also appeared in 18 postseason games. While he never earned a single Pro Bowl selection or All-Pro nod, he undoubtedly deserves credit as one of the top offensive linemen of his era and unquestionably deserves this title of the best Cowboys player to wear No. 64.
Other Dallas Cowboys jersey honorees
- No. 0: Well, there's literally only one option here
- No. 1: Quietly one of Dallas' better special teams weapons
- No. 2: He once stood alone in the record books
- No. 3: This player needed just one season to make his mark
- No. 4: This is a no-brainer
- No. 5: This player has the third-most points in Cowboys history
- No. 6: The winner here just edged out a Pro Bowl history maker
- No. 7: Fizzled fast after his big payday
- No. 8: Member of an elite Super Bowl club
- No. 9: Doesn't get the credit he deserves
- No. 10: Also played professional basketball
- No. 11: No, it's not Micah Parsons
- No. 12: Didn't begin his Hall of Fame career until age 27
- No. 13: Was a solid WR2 (until he wasn't)
- No. 14: Led the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl appearance
- No. 15: Won multiple titles in another sport
- No. 16: Helped a legend score his first NFL TD
- No. 17: The Cowboys' first true franchise QB
- No. 18: Still holds a team record after 30-plus years
- No. 19: Might surprise some people
- No. 20: The Cowboys' all-time interceptions leader
- No. 21: This player was always 'Prime Time' entertainment
- No. 22: The only NFL MVP in Cowboys history
- No. 23: Was a key role player for Tom Landry
- No. 24: It's not the one who won Super Bowl MVP
- No. 25: Holds a unique place in Cowboys history
- No. 26: Didn't play one down of college football
- No. 27: Held a Cowboys record for nearly 50 years
- No. 28: Holds an odd team record
- No. 29: Was allowed to walk after a historic season
- No. 30: Holds a sad NFL record as a head coach
- No. 31: Got a play banned from the NFL
- No. 32: Was also an actual cowboy
- No. 33: Holds an NFL record that can't be broken
- No. 34: Was drafted into the NBA (but not the NFL)
- No. 35: Has a son who's an NBA Hall of Famer
- No. 36: Was a strong special-teamer (when healthy)
- No. 37: Showed out in the Super Bowl (twice)
- No. 38: Had a solid career after going undrafted
- No. 39: Was on the wrong end of a famous play
- No. 40: Forced the NFL to change the Pro Bowl
- No. 41: Owns an impressive NFL playoff record
- No. 42: Went from undrafted to a defensive captain
- No. 43: The true anchor of the 1970s Dallas defense
- No. 44: Wasn't the typical NFL fullback
- No. 45: Lost his job to a future Super Bowl MVP
- No. 46: Was on the wrong side of Super Bowl history
- No. 47: Was an HBCU star before a 7-year NFL career
- No. 48: Was beloved despite not posting big numbers
- No. 49: Was a solid pass blocker and special-teamer
- No. 50: Made an iconic quote about America's Team
- No. 51: Had a father who broke Muhammad Ali's jaw
- No. 52: Owns a little-known franchise record
- No. 53: Was part of the famed 'Dirty Dozen' draft
- No. 54: Owns a special piece of Super Bowl history
- No. 55: Has a special connection to Jerry Jones
- No. 56: Got stuck in between the Cowboys' two dynasties
- No. 57: Gets little credit for Super Bowl heroics
- No. 58: Was drafted under fascinating circumstances
- No. 59: Was a Bill Parcells (and fan) favorite
- No. 60: Played his final six seasons after being shot in the chest
- No. 61: One of the best undrafted players in NFL history
- No. 62: Helped bring back a forgotten formation
- No. 63: Doesn't get his 'Doomsday Defense' due
This list will be updated daily until all 100 entries are complete, so please be sure to check back in with The Landry Hat for updates.
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