Lawrence McCutcheon, the bruising running back who left the Rams as their all-time leading rusher and then helped build their rosters for three more decades, died on October 23, 2026, with his family at his bedside. He was 76. His family said he died after “a long, courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease” and asked that donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
“Clutch”
Born in Plainview, Texas, on June 2, 1950, McCutcheon starred at Colorado State and was taken by the Rams in the third round of the 1972 NFL Draft, 70th overall. He broke through in 1973 and made five consecutive Pro Bowls from 1973 to 1977, running for more than 1,000 yards in four of those seasons and earning second-team All-Pro honours. In a 1975 divisional playoff win over the St. Louis Cardinals he carried 37 times for 202 yards, setting franchise postseason records.
Super Bowl XIV and beyond
McCutcheon played eight seasons with the Rams, finishing with 6,186 rushing yards, then the most in franchise history and still fourth on the list behind Steven Jackson, Eric Dickerson and Marshall Faulk. In Super Bowl XIV against the Pittsburgh Steelers he threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Ron Smith on a halfback option, one of the most memorable plays of the Rams’ defeat. He finished his career with the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills, retiring with 6,578 career rushing yards.
A life with the Rams
He returned to the Rams as a scout in 1982 and stayed for 32 years in the front office, including four years as director of scouting and seven as director of player personnel, before retiring in 2016 after 42 years with the organisation. “His legacy is woven into the fabric of our team,” the Rams said. His family added: “Clutch will be missed and remembered forever.”