MKRob Sports

Cullen Bryant, a mainstay of the Los Angeles Rams for 11 seasons and a running back on their 1980 Super Bowl team, has died of natural causes, family members said Thursday. He was 58.

A second-round pick of the Rams in 1973, he played for the team from 1973-1982, and again in 1987. He spent the 1983-84 seasons with the Seahawks. Listed at 6 feet 1 and 234 pounds, Bryant was stronger than most tailbacks of his era, and he was the biggest player of his time to regularly return punts and kickoffs.

“When Cullen hits those holes, nobody wants to stick their nose in there,” teammate Jack Youngblood told the Los Angeles Times in 1979. “Those little 180-pound (defensive backs) just jump on his back when he runs by.”

In 13 seasons, Bryant scored a total of 23 rushing and receiving touchdowns. He ran for 3,264 yards in 849 carries, and caught 148 passes for 1,176 yards. He also ran back three kickoffs for touchdowns.

In recent years, Bryant, who was divorced, largely kept to himself except for spending time with his two adult sons, William Cullen Jr. and Brandon, and his 13-year-old daughter, Brianna.