Patrick_Laird

Patrick Laird

Patrick Laird

American football player (born 1995)

Patrick Michael Laird (born August 17, 1995) is an American football running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at California.

Quick Facts No. 25 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Position: ...

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

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Professional career

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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.[28]

References

  1. [1]
    "This Mission Prep star spent 3 years as a walk-on at Cal. That finally changed last week". The Tribune.
  2. [2]
    "Football Roster: Patrick Laird". CalBears.com.
  3. [3]
    "Pac-12 Announces Football All-Academic Teams". Pac-12. November 29, 2016.
  4. [4]
    "Cal-UCLA Postgame Notes". CalBears.com.
  5. [5]
    "Cal-Oregon State Postgame Notes". CalBears.com.
  6. [6]
    "Laird and Rubenzer First-Team Pac-12 All-Academic". CalBears.com. November 30, 2017.
  7. [7]
    "Pac-12 Football All-Conference Team Announced". Pac-12. December 5, 2017.
  8. [8]
    "Burlsworth Trophy Announces Nominees". BurlsworthTrophy.com. October 31, 2017.
  9. [9]
    "Patrick Laird Named Burlsworth Trophy Finalist". Cal Bears.com. Cal Athletics. November 13, 2018.
  10. [10]
    "Patrick Laird Selected Senior CLASS Award Finalist". CalBears.com. Cal Athletics. October 24, 2018.
  11. [11]
    "Patrick Laird Named Campbell Trophy Semifinalist". CalBears.com. Cal Athletics. September 26, 2018.
  12. [12]
    "How Cal's running back inspired kids to spend their summer reading". espn.com. ESPN. September 27, 2018.
  13. [13]
    "Patrick Laird, California, RB, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  14. [14]
    Dickman, Chance (April 27, 2019). "Cal RB Patrick Laird signs undrafted free agent deal with Dolphins". KSBY. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  15. [15]
    "Dolphins Sign 18 Undrafted College Free Agents". MiamiDolphins.com. May 9, 2019.
  16. [16]
    "The Intern: Rookie RB Patrick Laird Introduces Himself With Clutch Touchdown". www.miamidolphins.com. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  17. [17]
    Schad, Joe. ""The Intern" Patrick Laird scores Miami Dolphins' game-winning touchdown". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  18. [18]
    "Patrick Laird 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  19. [19]
    "Roster Moves: Dolphins Announce Roster Moves - August 31". MiamiDolphins.com. August 31, 2021.
  20. [20]
    "Roster Moves: Miami Dolphins Make Roster Moves - Week 8". MiamiDolphins.com. October 30, 2021.
  21. [21]
    "Roster Moves: Dolphins Place RB Laird on Injured Reserve". MiamiDolphins.com. December 8, 2021.
  22. [22]
    "Buccaneers sign Patrick Laird". NBCSports.com. August 15, 2022.
  23. [23]
    Smith, Scott (August 30, 2022). "Tyler Johnson Among Cuts as Bucs Get to 53". Buccaneers.com.
  24. [24]
    Smith, Scott (August 31, 2022). "Bucs Start 2022 Practice Squad with 14 Returning Players". Buccaneers.com.
  25. [25]
    Smith, Scott (January 17, 2023). "Bucs Re-Sign 13 Practice Squad Players for 2023". Buccaneers.com.
  26. [26]
    Smith, Scott (August 30, 2023). "Bucs Cut Down to 53 for Regular Season, Place Ryan Jensen on IR". Buccaneers.com.
  27. [27]
    Smith, Scott (August 31, 2023). "Bucs Fill Out Practice Squad with Patrick O'Connor, Patrick Laird". Buccaneers.com.
  28. [28]
    Smith, Scott (January 23, 2024). "Bucs Retain 14 Practice Squad Players with Futures Contracts". Buccaneers.com.
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