Lawrence McCutcheon was the Rams’ top rusher for much of the 1970s after they selected him in the third round out of Colorado State in 1972. He saw almost no action as a rookie, then took over as the starting running back in 1973 under new coach Chuck Knox. That year he rushed for 1,097 yards and earned the first of five consecutive Pro Bowl selections. McCutcheon was a durable back who thrived in Knox’s run-heavy scheme, carrying the ball between the tackles and also contributing as a receiver.

From 1973 to 1977, he led the Rams in rushing every season and finished among the league’s top five in rushing yards four times. He topped 1,000 rushing yards in four of those years and posted more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage in both 1974 and 1976. In 1974, he earned Second-Team All-Pro honors while finishing high in yards from scrimmage and all-purpose yards. McCutcheon also had a standout playoff performance in 1975, rushing for 202 yards in a win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Those seasons established him as one of the league’s more consistent backs, even if he rarely got the same attention as some of the era’s bigger names.

Injuries limited him in 1978, and by 1979 he was sharing carries with younger backs. He still contributed in the postseason as the Rams reached Super Bowl XIV. In that game, McCutcheon threw a 24-yard touchdown pass on a halfback option that briefly gave Los Angeles the lead before Pittsburgh pulled away. The Rams made the playoffs in each of his final seven seasons, and he remained a reliable piece of the offense throughout that stretch.McCutcheon left the Rams after the 1979 season and finished his career with brief stops in Denver, Seattle, and Buffalo. With Los Angeles, he rushed for 6,186 yards and 23 touchdowns while adding 1,683 receiving yards and 12 more scores. Those totals made him the franchise’s all-time leading rusher when he departed.

His five straight Pro Bowl selections and the four 1,000-yard seasons capture the heart of his career with the Rams. McCutcheon was sometimes overlooked compared with other runners of the decade, but his production and durability made him one of the steadiest contributors on those Los Angeles teams.