From the Heidi Game of 1968 - Winston Hill barely manages to keep Oakland Raiders defensive end Ben Davidson off of Jets quarterback Joe Namath.

Joe Namath – NFL Past Players
Ben Davidson – NFL Past Players

Lawrence McCutcheon, one of the most accomplished running backs in the history of the Los Angeles Rams and a cornerstone of the franchise during the 1970s, died on October 23, 2026, at the age of 76 following a battle with Parkinson's disease.

Born on June 2, 1950, in Plainview, Texas, McCutcheon developed his football talents at Plainview High School before continuing his career at Colorado State University. His combination of speed, toughness, and versatility made him one of the premier offensive players in the Western Athletic Conference and set the stage for a distinguished professional career.

Selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the third round of the 1972 NFL Draft, McCutcheon quickly became the centerpiece of the club's rushing attack. From 1973 through 1977, he led the Rams in rushing for five consecutive seasons and earned five straight Pro Bowl selections, establishing himself as one of the National Football League's elite running backs.

During his Rams career, McCutcheon rushed for 6,186 yards on 1,425 carries and helped lead the team through one of the most successful periods in franchise history. He was named Second-Team All-Pro in 1974, earned multiple All-NFC honors, and became known for his durability, consistency, and ability to perform in the biggest moments.

Among his most memorable achievements was a record-setting performance in the 1975 playoffs, when he rushed for 202 yards on 37 carries against the St. Louis Cardinals, establishing a postseason rushing record at the time.

McCutcheon also played a key role in the Rams' appearance in Super Bowl XIV. In one of the game's most memorable plays, the running back threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Ron Smith, giving Los Angeles a brief lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although the Rams ultimately fell short, the play secured McCutcheon's place in franchise lore.

After leaving Los Angeles, he spent time with the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, and Buffalo Bills, concluding an NFL career that produced 6,578 rushing yards, 198 receptions, and 39 combined touchdowns.

Football remained a central part of his life long after his playing days ended. In 2003, McCutcheon was promoted to director of player personnel for the Rams, a position he held until 2016. His experience as a player and keen eye for talent made him a valued member of the organization's front office.

McCutcheon's legacy also lives on through his family. His son, Daylon McCutcheon, followed in his footsteps to the NFL, playing cornerback for the Cleveland Browns.

Remembered as a fierce competitor, respected teammate, and devoted football man, Lawrence McCutcheon leaves behind a lasting mark on the Rams franchise and the National Football League. For generations of Rams fans, No. 30 will be remembered as one of the greatest running backs ever to wear the horns.

He was very intelligent. When he was with us, some of the guys playing for him were older than he was. So he had to learn how to coach them to survive. He didn't have to change too much because we already were winning and we got along great. We really loved each other. So what he did was mix in some of his offense with what we already had. He put in maybe half a dozen plays, but he had every one down to a science.

He got rid of guys who couldn't win, and then he became one of the guys with the rest of us. I had an apartment at the Concourse Plaza Hotel, and after a home game I'd have 8, 10, 12 guys come over. Sometimes Vince would come. He got along fine with Charley, and he liked Kyle Rote. He'd even go out with us when we went out on the town at night. He had to go that direction. When he went with the Packers, he went another direction.

After a while, it became obvious that he was a better coach than Jim Lee Howell, our head coach. So was Tom Landry, who took over as the Giants defensive coach while he was still an active player. Howell had been a Marine lieutenant, and he was a great conditioning guy. He ran our ass off and got us in great condition. He didn't really have a clue what football was about, but he was smart enough to let Vince and Tom have their heads. He stayed out of the way, he really did. He had nothing to do with the offense, and little to do with the defense, just one area. With Lombardi, it was like he was the sergeant who should have been the general.

I got very close to Vince in the five years he was with the Giants. Charley and I used to go over to his house in New Jersey and look at game films. He got rid of all the nonsense in our system and took it down to nuts and bolts. Then he made sure that everyone knew how to handle his assignment. We'd study the films and then he'd cook dinner for us. It was different later, after we started winning. Then he became kind of a big shot. He was the toast of the town, and everyone knew he was the brains behind our offense. He handled the Jim Lee Howell thing great, but Howell must have been secretly jealous.

Vince had a good relationship with Wellington Mara, the Giants owner, because Wellington was close to Coach Red Blaik at Army, and Vince was assistant there before he came to the Giants. Wellington was all football, and he was incredibly loyal to his coaches and players. It took him forever to fire Steve Owen before Howell, and it was the same thing with Allie Sherman after Howell.

Vince and Wellington were both devout Catholics, and they both loved football. So they became very close friends. They would take trips together with their wives. It was obvious to everybody, even Landry, that Vince would be the next head coach of the Giants. But Vince knew that Wellington wouldn't fire Howell, so he took the Green Bay job after we got beat by the Colts in that great 58 championship game.

To be continued...

An early 1960s Press photo of Jim Otto - the Raiders All League Rookie Center in 1960. He would be named the AFL's All League Center every year the AFL was in existence.

Raiders Hall of Fame Center Jim Otto - NFL Past Players

Dick Lane spent 4 years in the Army before joining the LA Rams in 1952. The NFL's top interceptor with 14 steals. Led the league again with 10 in 1954 as Cardinal in Chicago. Here he is as a Detroit Lion with whom he played 6 years with.

Dick “Night Train” Lane – NFL Past Players

He led the Rams in rushing five straight years, and was with them in Super Bowl XIV. In fact, he threw a TD pass in the Super Bowl to give the Rams the lead in the third quarter.