Dallas Cowboys Legend John Fitzgerald Dies at 77

Two-time Super Bowl champion was a longtime starting center for the Cowboys in the 1970s.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 6:54pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring fragmented, overlapping geometric shapes in navy blue, silver, and white, representing the action and movement of a Dallas Cowboys football game.The geometric abstraction of a Dallas Cowboys football game captures the strategic complexity and raw energy of the sport.Dallas Today

John Fitzgerald, who played center for the Dallas Cowboys from 1971 to 1980 and was a key part of their first two Super Bowl championship teams, has died at the age of 77. Fitzgerald played in 137 games (109 starts) for the Cowboys and was known for his role in popularizing the shotgun formation with Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach.

Why it matters

Fitzgerald was a beloved figure in Cowboys history, having been a starter on the team's first two Super Bowl-winning squads in the 1970s. His passing marks the end of an era for one of the NFL's most storied franchises and will be mourned by Cowboys fans across Texas and beyond.

The details

Fitzgerald was drafted by the Cowboys in the fourth round in 1970 out of Boston College. He went on to start 109 of the 137 games he played for the team over the course of his 10-year career, helping Dallas win Super Bowls VI and XII. Fitzgerald was the starting center when head coach Tom Landry implemented the shotgun formation with Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach, a strategic innovation that helped the Cowboys' offense become one of the most potent in the NFL during that era.

  • Fitzgerald died on Tuesday, April 15, 2026.
  • Thursday, April 17, 2026 would have been Fitzgerald's 78th birthday.

The players

John Fitzgerald

A longtime starting center for the Dallas Cowboys from 1971 to 1980, Fitzgerald was a two-time Super Bowl champion who played a key role in the team's success during the 1970s.

Tom Landry

The legendary head coach of the Dallas Cowboys from 1960 to 1988, Landry popularized the shotgun formation with quarterback Roger Staubach during Fitzgerald's tenure as the team's starting center.

Roger Staubach

A Hall of Fame quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 to 1979, Staubach thrived in the shotgun formation implemented by head coach Tom Landry, with Fitzgerald as his starting center.

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What they’re saying

“John Fitzgerald was the heart and soul of our offensive line during the Cowboys' glory years in the 1970s. He was a true team player who helped us win two Super Bowls, and his legacy will always be remembered by Cowboys fans.”

— Roger Staubach, Hall of Fame Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys

What’s next

The Dallas Cowboys are expected to hold a memorial service and tribute to John Fitzgerald in the coming weeks to honor his contributions to the team's success in the 1970s.

The takeaway

Fitzgerald's passing marks the end of an era for the Dallas Cowboys, as he was a key member of the team's first two Super Bowl championship squads. His role in popularizing the shotgun formation with Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach cemented his place in Cowboys history, and his legacy will be remembered fondly by the team's loyal fanbase.