Who Was Lawrence McCutcheon? Los Angeles Rams Legend Known As "Clutch" Passes Away At 76

Lawrence McCutcheon, the Los Angeles Rams running back known as Clutch, died Friday at 76.© Image via: X/@Los Angeles Rams

Lawrence McCutcheon, the Los Angeles Rams running back who earned the nickname Clutch, died Friday at 76. His family said Parkinson's disease took him after a long fight. McCutcheon carried the ball for the Rams through the 1970s, made five Pro Bowls, and later spent more than three decades helping build the team from the front office. He even threw a touchdown pass in a Super Bowl. News of his death arrives as the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team that beat his Rams that day, prepare to play the New Orleans Saints this weekend in Saint-Denis.

How Lawrence McCutcheon Became The Los Angeles Rams Running Back Fans Called Clutch

The Rams drafted McCutcheon out of Colorado State in 1972. The Plainview, Texas, native did not need long to stand out. From 1973 to 1977, he led the team in rushing every single season. Coach Chuck Knox ran a productive offense, and McCutcheon sat at the heart of it. The Associated Press named him a second-team All-Pro in 1974.

The Rams are saddened by the passing of Rams Legend Lawrence McCutcheon. Our sincere condolences are with his family and friends during this difficult time. https://t.co/xmoxM7Yaam

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 23, 2026

His biggest stage came in January 1980. In the Super Bowl, the running back turned passer and found Ron Smith for a touchdown that put Los Angeles ahead. The Pittsburgh Steelers rallied to win the title. Still, a trick play like that says something about a man. Teammates trusted him with the ball, and coaches trusted him with the moment.

McCutcheon left the Rams in 1980 as their career rushing leader. He then played two more seasons with Denver, Seattle and Buffalo.

What Lawrence McCutcheon Leaves Behind For The Los Angeles Rams, Daylon McCutcheon And Dyson McCutcheon

Plenty of players fade after the final snap. McCutcheon went back to work. He joined the Rams as an executive and rose to director of player personnel with the St. Louis Rams in 2003. He held that job until he retired in 2016, shortly before the franchise moved home to Los Angeles.

His family summed up the arc in a statement.

“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,” McCutcheon's family said in its statement. “Clutch will be missed and remembered forever.”

The family also described his illness as “a long, courageous battle with Parkinson's disease.”

Football ran through his household too. His son, Daylon McCutcheon, played cornerback for the Cleveland Browns from 1999 to 2006. His grandson, Dyson McCutcheon, now plays defensive back at Middle Tennessee.

That is a rare thing in the NFL, three generations, one name, and a legacy that keeps moving forward.