John Fitzgerald, the steady-handed anchor who centered the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line through the franchise’s golden era and two Super Bowl titles, died on April 14, 2026, at the age of 77.

Before he became the technical engine of a dynasty, Fitzgerald was a raw physical force in Massachusetts. At Southbridge High School, he was a standout athlete who started as a 315-pound fullback and competed in the shot put. He refined that power at Boston College, where he played as a two-way tackle and excelled on both the offensive and defensive lines. His distinguished collegiate career eventually led to his induction into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982.

The Dallas Cowboys selected Fitzgerald in the fourth round of the 1970 NFL Draft with the 101st overall pick. He spent his first season on the team's taxi squad and initially played defensive tackle and backup guard. In 1972, he was converted to center; by 1973, he took over as the permanent starter. This move was not glamorous, but it defined the most successful decade in franchise history.

The 1975 season highlighted Fitzgerald's surgical precision. When head coach Tom Landry reintroduced the shotgun offense, it required a center who could accurately snap the ball seven yards back while immediately bracing for a hit. Kurt Daniels, editor of Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine, noted that Fitzgerald was the foundation for this tactical shift, easily handling the transition of hiking the ball a farther distance to quarterback Roger Staubach. According to the Dallas Cowboys, he was the man Staubach trusted with the ball before every single play.

Fitzgerald balanced his technical mastery with a dry wit. He famously nicknamed the offensive line of the late 1970s "Four Irishmen and a Scott," a reference to himself, Pat Donovan, Tom Rafferty, Jim Cooper, and Herb Scott. While the quarterbacks received the accolades, Fitzgerald provided the stability. In his 12-year tenure from 1970 to 1981, he was never associated with a losing team. The franchise reached the playoffs 11 times and appeared in five Super Bowls during his career. He played in 137 regular-season games and 19 postseason games, which tied him for 19th in franchise history at the time of his retirement, as reported by NBC Sports.

Fitzgerald was the literal and metaphorical middle of a dynasty, earning championship rings in Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII. As noted by Inside The Star, he was Roger Staubach's starting center for the majority of his career and remains the greatest 62 in Dallas Cowboys history. He passed away just two days before his 78th birthday. He will be remembered as the quiet, technical engine that provided the foundation for a decade of excellence, proving that the most vital part of a machine is often the one that works in silence.