NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
Former Dallas Cowboys center John Fitzgerald, a two-time Super Bowl champion, has died at the age of 77.
The Cowboys’ team website announced his death Tuesday morning. No cause of death was given.
The Cowboys drafted Fitzgerald in the fourth round out of Boston College after he played on both sides of the ball. He played offensive guard and defensive tackle in college and was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
John Fitzgerald of the Dallas Cowboys is on the field after Super Bowl X against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Miami, Florida, on January 18, 1976. (Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated)
As a rookie, the Cowboys originally had Fitzgerald lined up at defensive tackle, and he spent his rookie season on the taxi squad. In 1971, he moved to offense and was a backup guard on the Super Bowl-winning team.
In 1972, the team moved him to center, where he became a starter and remained there until his retirement. From 1973 to 1980, Fitzgerald was the center of a Cowboys offense that finished in the top 10 in total yards in each of those eight seasons.
FORMER CHARGERS SECOND-ROUND PICK NASIR ADDERLEY SIGNS WITH COLTS THREE YEARS AFTER RETIRING AT 25
Dallas Cowboys offensive linemen Rayfield Wright, Blaine Nye, John Fitzgerald and John Niland run to the line of scrimmage during a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on September 16, 1973. (Diamond Images/Getty Images)
Fitzgerald was also the focal point for head coach Tom Landry’s reintroduction to the shotgun offense, having no trouble throwing the ball to Roger Staubach from greater distance. After the shotgun offense was added, the Cowboys reached the Super Bowl in three of four seasons, including a 27-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII.
The Cowboys, in Fitzgerald’s 12 seasons at center, experienced significant success, reaching the playoffs 11 times, making nine NFC Championship Games and five Super Bowl appearances, winning two.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
Offensive linemen Rayfield Wright and John Fitzgerald of the Dallas Cowboys block defensive linemen Steve Furness and LC Greenwood of the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl (Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images)
Fitzgerald retired in 1982 after being placed on injured reserve before the 1981 season with a knee injury.
