Ex-Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Champion Running Back Has Tragically Died

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

It is a very sad day for the Dallas Cowboys and their fans. Scott Laidlaw, a former Cowboys running back and Super Bowl champion, died Thursday at age 72. Jonah Javad of WFAA first reported the news. Laidlaw played six seasons in the NFL and was part of one of the most successful periods in team history.

Laidlaw built his reputation in Dallas in the late 1970s under legendary coach Tom Landry. He played both fullback and halfback and fit well in the team’s run-first offense. Coaches and teammates trusted him in big situations, even when his contributions did not always show in the stats.

With Super Bowl LX just around the corner, Laidlaw himself once played on football’s ultimate stage with the Cowboys. He appeared in two Super Bowls during his career. Moreover, he won a championship ring when Dallas beat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII. That win secured his place in franchise history.

Steady Contributor During Dallas Cowboys’ Title Years

Laidlaw played for the Cowboys from 1975 through 1979. He spent his final NFL season with the New York Giants in 1980. Over his career, he carried the ball 16 times for 255 yards and scored nine rushing touchdowns. He also caught 74 passes for 668 yards and three receiving touchdowns.

Dallas picked him in the 14th round of the 1975 NFL Draft out of Stanford. Laidlaw grew up in Hawthorne, California. A knee injury ended his rookie season after eight games and required surgery, but he came back strong the following year.

RIP, Scott Laidlaw!

Scott Laidlaw (born February 17, 1953) is an American former professional football rb in the (NFL) for the Cowboys and Giants. He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal and was selected by the Cowboys in the 14th round of the 1975 NFL draft. pic.twitter.com/bRpOD2J4Sv

— Bryan Cooper (@xtcoop) January 30, 2026

During the 1976 season, he played 13 games and started seven. That year became the best of his career. He ran 94 times for 424 yards and three touchdowns. He also made 38 catches for 325 yards. Coaches relied on him as a steady backfield option.

His role grew during the Dallas Cowboys’ 1978 playoff run. He stepped in as the main running back as the team reached Super Bowl XIII. Dallas lost a close game to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Between 1976 and 1979, he made eight regular-season starts for the Cowboys. The team released him after the 1979 season. He then signed with the Giants, played one more year, and retired.

In December, the Cowboys honored Laidlaw and other members of the 1975 rookie class known as the “Dirty Dozen” during a home game. The team’s website later named Laidlaw the best 14th-round draft pick in franchise history.

His legacy lives on through those teams and moments. He earned respect through effort, toughness, and team-first play.