Lawrence McCutcheon, 5-Time Pro Bowl RB for Rams and My First Favorite Ram Player!

Lawrence McCutcheon was my first favorite player as a long time Ram fan.

Don Lichterman · Updated 2 minutes ago

6,578CAREER RUSHING YDS

39CAREER TOUCHDOWNS

5xPRO BOWL, 1973–77

32YEARS IN FRONT OFFICE

I discovered who Lawrence McCutcheon was in 1974. I have to presume that of the few minutes I watched of the Los Angeles Rams losing in the NFC Championship against the Minnesota Vikings, Lawrence McCutcheon got the ball. I don’t remember it if it did happen, however, the months after that January day, I learned about this running back, Lawrence McCutcheon.

No one ever mentioned him in the news or as a top running back in the NFL. O.J. Simpson, Otis Armstrong, the two runners on Pittsburgh, Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier each having over 1,000 yards rushing which back then, was hard. Lydell Mitchell. Chuck Foreman were always talked about the world of football. I never heard of this guy named Lawrence McCutcheon who had over 1,100 yards in that 1973 season.

Also, the Rams were not a team anyone ever knew about back then. They never got played on the East Coast on TV. It was very hard back then, to be a west coast fan of any team. It was near impossible considering the TV coverage.

He ended up playing for ten years rushing for 6,578 yards. He scored 39 touchdowns during the mid-70’s with five straight Pro Bowls from 1973 to 1977. He also went on to work in the Rams front office.

“…a long, courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.”

— THE McCUTCHEON FAMILY, in a statement on Friday

The Rams drafted Lawrence from Colorado State in 1972. Before that, he grew up and played in Plainview, Texas, in high school. Coach Chuck Knox considered him to be an integral part of the Rams offense. Nicknamed “Clutch,” he was a second-team AP All-Pro selection in 1974.

He played in 11 playoff games during his years with the Rams. He even threw a touchdown pass to Ron Smith when they played the Steelers in that Super Bowl, where the Rams led through the first three quarters before it all imploded.

He was also the team’s rushing leader when he left in 1980 and before the Eric Dickerson era.

A CAREER IN BLUE AND GOLD

1972

Drafted by the Rams out of Colorado State, after growing up and playing high school ball in Plainview, Texas.

1973

Rushes for over 1,100 yards — the start of a run of five straight Pro Bowl selections.

1974

Named second-team AP All-Pro under coach Chuck Knox.

1973–77

Five consecutive Pro Bowl selections. Plays in 11 playoff games, including a touchdown pass to Ron Smith in Super Bowl XIV against the Steelers.

1980

Leaves the Rams as the franchise’s all-time rushing leader, just before the Eric Dickerson era begins.

2003–16

Serves as the Rams’ director of player personnel, part of 32 years total in the franchise’s front office.

McCutcheon also became a front office team executive for the team’s organization. He spent over three decades in the Rams front office. If you count the years in St. Louis, he was the director of player personnel from 2003 until he retired in 2016.

“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. Clutch will be missed and remembered forever.”

— THE McCUTCHEON FAMILY

A FOOTBALL FAMILY

McCutcheon’s son, Daylon, was a cornerback for the Cleveland Browns from 1999 to 2006. McCutcheon’s grandson, Dyson, is a defensive back at Middle Tennessee.

Lawrence McCutcheon was my first favorite player as a long time Ram fan.

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