Patrick Laird facts for kids
Laird with Cal in 2017
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | August 17, 1995 San Luis Obispo, California, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Mission Prep (San Luis Obispo) | ||||||||||
| College: | California (2014–2018) | ||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2019 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Patrick Michael Laird, born on August 17, 1995, is an American professional football player. He plays as a running back, which is a player who primarily runs with the ball. He played college football for the California Golden Bears before joining the NFL.
Contents
Early Life
Patrick Laird grew up in San Luis Obispo, California. When he was in his final year at Mission College Preparatory High School, he was an amazing runner on the football team. He ran for over 3,000 yards and scored 32 touchdowns! That's a lot of points.
College Football Journey
Patrick started his college football career at the University of California, Berkeley in 2014. He joined the team as a "walk-on," which means he wasn't given a scholarship right away but earned his spot through hard work. In 2015, he "redshirted," meaning he practiced with the team but didn't play in games, which allowed him to save a year of eligibility. In 2016, he earned academic honors for his good grades.
2017 Season Highlights
In 2017, as a junior, Patrick had a fantastic season. He played in 11 games and ran for 1,127 yards, scoring 8 touchdowns. He became one of only 16 players in the history of the Cal football team to run for over 1,000 yards in a single season. In one game against Oregon State, he ran for 214 yards, which is one of the best single-game rushing performances in Cal's history.
Because of his great performance and hard work, he received more academic honors and was recognized as one of the best college players who started as a walk-on.
2018 Season and Community Work
In 2018, his senior year, Patrick continued to play well. He rushed for 816 yards and scored 5 touchdowns in 11 games. He was again recognized as a top walk-on player and a finalist for other awards that celebrate both athletic and academic achievements.
While at California, Patrick also started a special summer reading program. He inspired over 1,000 elementary school students to read at least four books during their summer break. This shows he cares about helping kids learn and grow!
Professional Football Career
Patrick Laird was not chosen by any team in the 2019 NFL draft, but he still got a chance to play professional football. He signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent.
Miami Dolphins
When Patrick joined the Miami Dolphins, he earned a fun nickname: "The Intern." This happened because someone at training camp mistook him for an intern!
In his first year, 2019, Patrick scored his very first professional touchdown in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He finished that season with 168 rushing yards and one touchdown, plus 204 receiving yards from catching the ball. He continued with the Dolphins until 2021.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In 2022, Patrick signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spent time on their practice squad, which is a group of players who train with the team and can be called up to play in games if needed. He continued with the Buccaneers through the 2023 season.
