Lawrence McCutcheon, the five-time Pro Bowl running back who became one of the most enduring figures in Los Angeles Rams history, died Friday, Oct. 23, at the age of 76. McCutcheon, a five-time Pro Bowl running back for the Los Angeles Rams who went on to a long career in the team's front office, died Friday. He was 76. His death was announced by his family through the franchise he represented for nearly four decades, both as a player and as an executive.
"It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our husband, brother, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Lawrence McCutcheon," the McCutcheon family said in a statement. "Clutch passed away on Oct. 23 with family at his bedside following a long, courageous battle with Parkinson's disease." Known affectionately as "Clutch," McCutcheon was surrounded by family when he passed away.
A Dominant Runner in the 1970s
A third-round pick (70th overall) by the Rams in the 1972 NFL Draft out of Colorado State, McCutcheon played the first eight of his 10 NFL seasons with the Rams. His breakout 1973 season sparked a run of five consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1973-1977, with him rushing for more than 1,000 yards in four of those five seasons.
The native of Plainview, Texas, quickly emerged as one of the most dynamic running backs of the 1970s, earning a Pro Bowl selection and leading the Rams in rushing each year from 1973 to 1977 in coach Chuck Knox's productive offense. McCutcheon, nicknamed "Clutch," was a second-team AP All-Pro selection in 1974.
Postseason Highlights
His 37 carries for 202 yards in the Rams' 35-23 divisional round win over the Cardinals in the 1975 playoffs set franchise postseason records. He appeared in 11 postseason games for the Rams.
McCutcheon's most unforgettable moment, however, came on the sport's biggest stage. McCutcheon famously threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Ron Smith in the third quarter of Super Bowl XIV. That gave Los Angeles a 19-17 lead before it eventually lost 31-19 to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 20, 1980.
Franchise Rushing Record
His 6,186 career rushing yards at the end of his Rams playing career were the most in franchise history at the time, and today still stand as the fourth-most in franchise history behind Marshall Faulk, Eric Dickerson and Steven Jackson. Over his full NFL career, McCutcheon also played for Denver, Seattle and Buffalo, retiring after the 1981 season. He finished his career with 1,521 carries for 6,578 yards and 26 touchdowns, adding 198 catches for 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns. McCutcheon played 109 games with 82 starts.
Three Decades Shaping the Rams Front Office
McCutcheon's connection to the franchise did not end when he hung up his cleats. After finishing his playing career with the Broncos and Seahawks in 1980, then the Bills in 1981, McCutcheon rejoined the Rams as a scout in 1982. He played many roles - including director of player personnel for seven years - before retiring in 2016.
McCutcheon rose to become the St. Louis Rams' director of player personnel from 2003 until his retirement in 2016, shortly before the team moved home to Los Angeles. That span meant he was present for the franchise's relocation to St. Louis, its Super Bowl XXXIV championship era, and the groundwork for its eventual return to Southern California.
Statements From the Organization
The Rams honored McCutcheon's dual legacy as both player and executive. "The Los Angeles Rams are deeply saddened by the passing of Lawrence McCutcheon. His impact on this organization spanned generations, and he embodied what it means to be a Ram. A five-time Pro Bowl running back and once the franchise's all-time leading rusher, he later served in our front office as a scout and director of player personnel. His legacy is woven into the fabric of our team."
His family echoed that sentiment while reflecting on his full career arc. "Through a decade-long playing career and another 32 years in the Rams' front office, Clutch earned the respect and admiration of teammates, opposing players, colleagues, and fans alike," they said.
Family and Tributes
McCutcheon's football legacy extended into the next generation. Cornerback Daylon McCutcheon, the son of Lawrence, was a member of the Cleveland Browns from 1999-2006. Daylon's own son, Dyson McCutcheon, plays for the Washington Huskies, continuing the family's football lineage into a third generation.
Tributes poured in from across the sport following the announcement. Former NFL quarterback Troy Aikman also paid tribute, sharing the Rams' announcement on his Instagram story with a personal message.
In honoring McCutcheon's wishes, his family asked that in lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor him donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. The request reflects the long, private battle McCutcheon waged with the disease in the years following his front-office retirement.
McCutcheon's passing marks the loss of one of the defining figures of the Rams' 1970s playoff era under Chuck Knox, a stretch of sustained success that set the stage for the franchise's later championship runs. For a team now competing in the NFL, his decades of service as both a record-setting runner and a personnel executive leave a legacy that spans multiple eras and two different home cities.