Scott Laidlaw, the former Dallas Cowboys running back who helped power the team through two Super Bowl appearances in the late 1970s, has died at 72.
Laidlaw spent five seasons in Dallas from 1975 to 1979 and became a trusted part of Tom Landry’s signature ball-control offense. He played in two Super Bowls with the Cowboys and earned a ring in Super Bowl XII when Dallas defeated the Denver Broncos.
Drafted in the 14th round out of Stanford, Laidlaw arrived in Dallas as part of the team’s storied “Dirty Dozen” 1975 rookie class. A knee injury slowed him as a rookie, but he rebounded to become a steady, reliable force in the backfield. His best season came in 1976, when he ran for 424 yards and added 325 receiving yards.
Laidlaw became the Cowboys’ featured back during their 1978 playoff run, which ended in the unforgettable 35–31 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIII.
Over six seasons, Laidlaw logged nine rushing touchdowns and more than 600 receiving yards before finishing his career with the New York Giants in 1980. He was recently honored at a Cowboys home game alongside his fellow “Dirty Dozen” teammates, and the team later named him the best 14th-round draft pick in franchise history.
Laidlaw’s impact on some of the Cowboys’ most iconic seasons continues to be remembered across the NFL.
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