Los Angeles Rams Legend Lawrence McCutcheon Dies at 76: Five-Time Pro Bowler Who Threw a Touchdown Pass in Super Bowl XIV
Lawrence McCutcheon, the legendary Los Angeles Rams running back, died on October 23 at age 76, surrounded by family after a long battle with Parkinson's disease, his family said in a statement released through the Rams, according to Reuters.
"It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our husband, brother, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, Lawrence McCutcheon," the family said. "Clutch passed away on October 23 with family at his bedside following a long, courageous battle with Parkinson's disease. 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." The family asked that donations in his memory go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's research. The Rams said in their statement: "His impact on this organization spanned generations, and he embodied what it means to be a Ram."
McCutcheon was born on June 2, 1950, in Plainview, Texas. He played at Colorado State from 1969 to 1971, rushing for 2,917 yards as the school's first 1,000-yard rusher in a season, and was inducted into the Colorado State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989. The Rams drafted him in the third round (70th overall) in 1972. Over eight seasons in Los Angeles (1972-79) he rushed for 6,186 yards — the franchise record when he left, and still fourth in club history behind Steven Jackson, Eric Dickerson and Marshall Faulk. He was selected to five straight Pro Bowls from 1973 to 1977 and was a second-team All-Pro in 1974. In a 1975 playoff win over the Cardinals he carried 37 times for 202 yards, a franchise postseason record.
His most famous play came in Super Bowl XIV: on January 20, 1980, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, he threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Ron Smith on a halfback option, giving the Rams a 19-17 lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers before Los Angeles lost 31-19. He finished his playing career with the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks in 1980 and the Buffalo Bills in 1981. His career totals were 1,521 carries for 6,578 yards and 26 rushing touchdowns, plus 198 catches for 1,799 yards and 13 receiving touchdowns in 109 games. After retiring he rejoined the Rams as a scout in 1982 and spent 32 years in the front office, including as director of player personnel.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：洛杉矶纪念体育场1987年航拍（资料图）——McCutcheon 效力公羊队的八个赛季以此为主场；其本人开放授权照片经查无，维基百科所载肖像为非自由授权图片。照片：Thomas Kelsey／Los Angeles Times，CC BY 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。Photo: The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in a 1987 aerial file photo — McCutcheon's home stadium during his eight seasons with the Rams; no openly licensed portrait of him was found (the Wikipedia portrait is a non-free image). Photo by Thomas Kelsey / Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
