Los Angeles Rams legend Lawrence McCutcheon dies at 76
Lawrence McCutcheon, a five-time Pro Bowl running back and longtime member of the Los Angeles Rams organization, died Oct. 23, 2026, at age 76, his family announced. The family said he died following a long, courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease and that he was surrounded by family at his bedside. The Los Angeles Rams issued a statement expressing sorrow and extending condolences to McCutcheon’s relatives and friends.
McCutcheon was a third-round selection (70th overall) by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1972 NFL Draft out of Colorado State and spent the first eight of his 10 NFL seasons with the team. His breakout 1973 season began a streak of five consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1973 through 1977, and he rushed for more than 1,000 yards in four of those five seasons. Those seasons established McCutcheon as one of the NFL’s top backs of the mid-1970s.
In the Rams’ 35-23 divisional playoff win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1975 postseason, McCutcheon carried 37 times for 202 yards, setting franchise postseason records. When his Rams playing days concluded he had accumulated 6,186 rushing yards, which was the franchise record at the time and now ranks fourth in team history behind Marshall Faulk, Eric Dickerson and Steven Jackson. After leaving the Rams, McCutcheon finished his playing career with the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks in 1980 and with the Buffalo Bills in 1981.
McCutcheon rejoined the Rams as a scout in 1982 and held multiple personnel roles over the next decades, including four years as director of scouting and seven years as director of player personnel, and he served as a longtime national scout. He retired on Aug. 18, 2016, after spending 42 years with the organization and 44 years in the NFL overall. His front-office work kept him involved in building Rams rosters for decades after his playing career ended.
The Los Angeles Rams said they were deeply saddened by McCutcheon’s passing and praised his impact on the organization both on the field and in the front office. McCutcheon’s family asked that, in lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor him donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The family also expressed gratitude for the messages of support they received from the community.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Lawrence McCutcheon’s death marks the loss of a figure who shaped the Rams across eras as a standout running back and long-serving personnel executive. His 1970s production, including the 202-yard playoff game in 1975, remains a prominent chapter in franchise history and contributed to his five Pro Bowl selections. His decades in the Rams’ personnel department reflect a rare continuity in modern NFL front offices and a sustained influence on roster construction. The family’s request to direct memorial gifts to the Michael J. Fox Foundation underscores the personal and public dimensions of his legacy.