Former Cowboys offensive lineman John Fitzgerald has died at the age of 77, the team announced.
The two-time Lombardi Trophy winner passed away Tuesday morning; no cause of death was given.
He spent his entire 12-year career with Dallas as a pillar of coach Tom Landry’s offense, playing 137 regular season games, mostly at center, and appearing in five Super Bowls.
Cowboys offensive lineman John Fitzgerald is seen after a game against the Steelers. Sports Illustrated via Getty Images After serving as a backup during the team’s Super Bowl triumph in 1972, he won the starting center job in 1973 and held that role for eight years.
All told, Fitzgerald — a fourth-round pick — would finish his career with nine NFC Championship appearances and 19 games in the playoffs.
He started Super Bowl XII for Dallas in 1978 in a 27-10 win over the Broncos.
Fitzgerald arrived in Dallas via Boston College where he played on both the offensive and defensive line.
Described by the Cowboys’ website as the “foundation” for Landry’s shotgun offense, he was incredibly never part of a losing team and reached the postseason 11 times.
Offensive linemen Rayfield Wright #70 and John Fitzgerald #62 of the Dallas Cowboys prepare to block defensive linemen Steve Furness #64 and L.C. Greenwood #68 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl X on January 18, 1976. Diamond Images During his final season in 1981, he didn’t actually see the field due to a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve.
