Former Dallas Cowboys running back Scott Laidlaw, part of the team’s legendary “Dirty Dozen” rookie class, has died at 72, his family confirmed this week.
Laidlaw’s loved ones shared the news with WFAA-TV, though no details about his cause of death were released.
The California native became a college standout at Stanford before the Cowboys picked him in the 14th round of the 1975 NFL Draft. Despite the long-shot draft position, Laidlaw quickly made his mark. His rookie class included future Hall of Famer Randy White and helped shape one of the franchise’s most iconic eras.
Laidlaw spent five seasons with the Cowboys from 1975 to 1979, appearing in the playoffs three times. He earned his Super Bowl ring during the 1977 season, when Dallas toppled the Denver Broncos 27–10 in Super Bowl XII. The next year, the team returned to the championship stage but narrowly lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Throughout those postseason runs, Laidlaw punched in two key rushing touchdowns — one against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship and another against the Atlanta Falcons earlier in the playoffs.
He wrapped up his NFL career in 1980 after a brief stint with the New York Giants.
The Cowboys honored Laidlaw and the rest of the “Dirty Dozen” during a reunion in December. He reflected on the moment with WFAA-TV, saying how rare and meaningful it was to have the group together again after so many years apart.
Fans across the league are now sharing tributes to the tough, reliable back who helped define a golden era in Dallas football.
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