| Patrick Laird | |
| Position: | Running back |
| Birth Date: | 17 August 1995 |
| Birth Place: | San Luis Obispo, California, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 0 |
| Weight Lb: | 205 |
| High School: | Mission Prep (San Luis Obispo, California) |
| College: | California (2014–2018) |
| Undraftedyear: | 2019 |
| Pastteams: |
|
| Statseason: | 2023 |
| Statlabel1: | Rushing yards |
| Statvalue1: | 244 |
| Statlabel2: | Rushing average |
| Statvalue2: | 3.2 |
| Statlabel3: | Rushing touchdowns |
| Statvalue3: | 1 |
| Statlabel4: | Receptions |
| Statvalue4: | 36 |
| Statlabel5: | Receiving yards |
| Statvalue5: | 289 |
| Statlabel6: | Receiving touchdowns |
| Pfr: | LairPa00 |
Patrick Michael Laird (born August 17, 1995) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at California.
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]
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]
As a junior in 2017, he played in 11 games and rushed 191 times for 1,127 yards and 8 touchdowns. 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]
As a senior in 2018, he played in 11 games and rushed 197 times for 816 yards and 5 touchdowns.
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]
| 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 | 39 | 399 | 2,008 | 5.0 | 14 | 51.5 | |
Laird went undrafted in the 2019 NFL draft, and signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent.[13] [14]
Laird gained the nickname "The Intern" after he was mistaken for being an intern during training camp.[15]
Laird scored his first career touchdown in a 37–31 upset over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13.[16] Overall, Laird finished the 2019 season with 62 carries for 168 yards and one touchdown to go along with 23 receptions for 204 yards.[17]
On August 31, 2021, Laird was waived by the Dolphins and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[18] He was promoted to the active roster on October 30, 2021.[19] He was placed on injured reserve on December 8, 2021.[20]
On August 15, 2022, Laird signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[21] He was waived on August 30, 2022, and signed to the practice squad the next day.[22] [23] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 17, 2023.[24]
On August 29, 2023, Laird was released by the Buccaneers and re-signed to the practice squad.[25] [26] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 23, 2024, but was released on May 22.[27] [28]