Patrick Laird
Personal information | |||||||||||||
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Born: | San Luis Obispo, California, U.S. | August 17, 1995||||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||
Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||
High school: | Mission Prep (San Luis Obispo, California) | ||||||||||||
College: | California (2014–2018) | ||||||||||||
Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
Undrafted: | 2019 | ||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||
Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||||||||
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Patrick Michael Laird (born August 17, 1995) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at California.
Early years
Laird attended Mission College Preparatory High School in San Luis Obispo, California. As a senior, he rushed for 3,117 yards and 32 touchdowns on 408 carries for an average of 7.6 yards per rush.[1]
College career
Laird began his college career for the California Golden Bears in 2014 as a walk-on. He redshirted his second year at California in 2015.[2] In his second year of eligibility in 2016, he received second-team Pac-12 Conference All-Academic honors.[3]
2017 season
As a junior in 2017, he played in 11 games and rushed 191 times for 1,127 yards and 8 touchdowns.[2] He is the sixteenth player in Cal history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season.[4] Laird's 214 yards rushing against Oregon State in 2017 ranks tenth in program history for rushing yards in a single game.[5]
He received first-team Pac-12 All-Academic honors,[6] All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention,[7] and was named a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded annually to the nation’s most outstanding college football player who began his career as a walk-on.[8]
2018 season
As a senior in 2018, he played in 11 games and rushed 197 times for 816 yards and 5 touchdowns.[2]
Laird was a Finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy[9] and the Senior CLASS Award.[10] He was also named a semi-finalist for the Campbell Trophy.[11]
While at California, Laird began a summer reading program, inspiring over 1,000 elementary school students to read at least four books a summer.[12]
Statistics
Season | Rushing | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Y/G | |
2014 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 2.0 | 0 | 1.2 |
2015 | 0 | Redshirted | ||||
2016 | 12 | 8 | 59 | 7.4 | 1 | 4.9 |
2017 | 11 | 191 | 1,127 | 5.9 | 8 | 102.5 |
2018 | 11 | 197 | 816 | 4.1 | 5 | 74.2 |
Totals[2] | 39 | 399 | 2,008 | 5.0 | 14 | 51.5 |
Professional career
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 ft 11+1⁄2 in (1.82 m) |
205 lb (93 kg) |
30 in (0.76 m) |
9+3⁄8 in (0.24 m) |
4.56 s | 1.55 s | 2.64 s | 4.14 s | 6.90 s | 34.0 in (0.86 m) |
10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) | ||
All values from Pro Day[13] |
Miami Dolphins
Laird went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, and signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent.[14][15]
Laird gained the nickname "The Intern" after he was mistaken for being an intern during training camp.[16]
Laird scored his first career touchdown in a 37–31 upset over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13.[17] Overall, Laird finished the 2019 season with 62 carries for 168 yards and one touchdown to go along with 23 receptions for 204 yards.[18]
On August 31, 2021, Laird was waived by the Dolphins and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[19] He was promoted to the active roster on October 30, 2021.[20] He was placed on injured reserve on December 8, 2021.[21]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On August 15, 2022, Laird signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[22] He was waived on August 30, 2022, and signed to the practice squad the next day.[23][24] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 17, 2023.[25]
On August 29, 2023, Laird was released by the Buccaneers and re-signed to the practice squad.[26][27] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 23, 2024, but was released on May 22.[28][29]
References
- ^ "This Mission Prep star spent 3 years as a walk-on at Cal. That finally changed last week". The Tribune.
- ^ a b c d "Football Roster: Patrick Laird". CalBears.com.
- ^ "Pac-12 Announces Football All-Academic Teams". Pac-12. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016.
- ^ "Cal-UCLA Postgame Notes". CalBears.com.
- ^ "Cal-Oregon State Postgame Notes". CalBears.com.
- ^ "Laird and Rubenzer First-Team Pac-12 All-Academic". CalBears.com. November 30, 2017.
- ^ "Pac-12 Football All-Conference Team Announced". Pac-12. December 5, 2017.
- ^ "Burlsworth Trophy Announces Nominees". BurlsworthTrophy.com. October 31, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
- ^ "Patrick Laird Named Burlsworth Trophy Finalist". Cal Bears.com. Cal Athletics. November 13, 2018.
- ^ "Patrick Laird Selected Senior CLASS Award Finalist". CalBears.com. Cal Athletics. October 24, 2018.
- ^ "Patrick Laird Named Campbell Trophy Semifinalist". CalBears.com. Cal Athletics. September 26, 2018.
- ^ "How Cal's running back inspired kids to spend their summer reading". espn.com. ESPN. September 27, 2018.
- ^ "Patrick Laird, California, RB, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ^ Dickman, Chance (April 27, 2019). "Cal RB Patrick Laird signs undrafted free agent deal with Dolphins". KSBY. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
- ^ "Dolphins Sign 18 Undrafted College Free Agents". MiamiDolphins.com. May 9, 2019. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
- ^ "The Intern: Rookie RB Patrick Laird Introduces Himself With Clutch Touchdown". www.miamidolphins.com. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- ^ Schad, Joe. ""The Intern" Patrick Laird scores Miami Dolphins' game-winning touchdown". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- ^ "Patrick Laird 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
- ^ "Roster Moves: Dolphins Announce Roster Moves - August 31". MiamiDolphins.com. August 31, 2021.
- ^ "Roster Moves: Miami Dolphins Make Roster Moves - Week 8". MiamiDolphins.com. October 30, 2021.
- ^ "Roster Moves: Dolphins Place RB Laird on Injured Reserve". MiamiDolphins.com. December 8, 2021.
- ^ "Buccaneers sign Patrick Laird". NBCSports.com. August 15, 2022.
- ^ Smith, Scott (August 30, 2022). "Tyler Johnson Among Cuts as Bucs Get to 53". Buccaneers.com.
- ^ Smith, Scott (August 31, 2022). "Bucs Start 2022 Practice Squad with 14 Returning Players". Buccaneers.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
- ^ Smith, Scott (January 17, 2023). "Bucs Re-Sign 13 Practice Squad Players for 2023". Buccaneers.com.
- ^ Smith, Scott (August 30, 2023). "Bucs Cut Down to 53 for Regular Season, Place Ryan Jensen on IR". Buccaneers.com.
- ^ Smith, Scott (August 31, 2023). "Bucs Fill Out Practice Squad with Patrick O'Connor, Patrick Laird". Buccaneers.com.
- ^ Smith, Scott (January 23, 2024). "Bucs Retain 14 Practice Squad Players with Futures Contracts". Buccaneers.com.
- ^ "Patrick Laird: Gets let go". CBSSports.com. May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.