Commanders retiring John Riggins' jersey number
The Hall of Fame running back will be honored during Washington’s Nov. 8 game against the Rams.
Nobody will ever wear 44 again
John Riggins, author of the most iconic play in franchise history, will have his jersey retired by the Commanders at their Nov. 8 game against the Rams.
The organization announced plans for its seventh jersey retirement on Thursday.
Only surprise here is that it took so long.
The franchise's all-time leading rusher with 7,742 played for Washington from 1976 to 1985. You may recall “The Diesel” held out one of those years until returning upon the hiring of Joe Gibbs with a statement that captured his particular whimsy: “I'm bored. I'm broke. I'm back.”
Second in franchise history with 85 touchdowns, Riggins’ most legendary score came in Super Bowl 17 against the Dolphins on Jan. 30, 1983.
https://x.com/i/status/2075248613744394328
On 4th and 1 from Miami's 43-yard line, Riggins broke free and rumbled to the end zone for the go-ahead TD in the 27-17 win.
https://youtu.be/nTMi9Er05ss?is=pawsHta5XdslTbN2
Riggins finished with 166 yards and ran away with MVP honors for the first of the franchise’s three Super Bowl titles. The rugged back with speed dominated throughout the playoffs, rushing for 610 yards in four games.
Riggins joins Sammy Baugh (33), Darrell Green (28), Sonny Jurgensen (9), Bobby Mitchell (49), Art Monk (81) and Sean Taylor (21) as franchise legends honored with a jersey retirement.
Green, Monk and Riggins have come over the past three years under owner Josh Harris.
Riggins, a first-round pick by the New Your Jets in 1972, kept a distance from the Washington organization during former owner Dan Snyder’s reign but returned when Harris bought the franchise in 2023.
“There are certain players whose impact goes far beyond statistics, championships and accolades,” Harris said in a statement. “They become woven into the identity of a franchise. John Riggins is one of those players.”
No doubt. Take a bow, John Riggins.
https://youtu.be/BxBoofV3fmQ?is=g_BDbzK7tZOOROxK
So soon?