Former Dallas Cowboys running back Scott Laidlaw has died at the age of 72, the team announced Monday.
According to the Cowboys, Laidlaw died on Jan. 29. The running back was part of Dallas’ late 1970s teams that appeared in three Super Bowls. He originally landed in Dallas as part of the team’s 1975 draft class, also known as the Dirty Dozen.
Laidlaw and the Cowboys hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in 1978, when Dallas defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII.
The Cowboys selected Laidlaw in the 14th round of the ‘75 draft. Before his professional career started, he played collegiately at Stanford.
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Laidlaw played in Dallas for five seasons, posting career-highs in rushing yards (424) and receiving yards (325) in 1976. In total, he posted 1,675 scrimmage yards and 12 total touchdowns throughout his Cowboys tenure.
The running back closed out his NFL career with the New York Giants in 1980.
Laidlaw and eight other members of the Cowboys’ Dirty Dozen draft class were honored at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 14. That draft class included franchise icons like defensive tackle Randy White and linebacker Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson.
Nine members of the 1975 Dallas Cowboys “Dirty Dozen” are recognized during a timeout during the first half of an NFL football game at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Arlington. Pictured are Pat Donovan(67), Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson(56), Rolly Woolsey(45), Randy White(54), Bob Breunig(53), Burton Lawless(66), Percy Howard(81), Scott Laidlaw(35) and Randy Hughes(42).
Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer
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