John Riggins

John Riggins
Ted Van Pelt · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	John Riggins
Birth date	4 August 1949
Birth place	Mason, Kansas
Height	6 ft 2 in
Weight	230 lb
Position	Running back
College	University of Kansas
Drafted	1971 NFL Draft, 1st round, 6th pick
Teams	New York Jets (1971–1975), Washington Redskins (1976–1985)
Number	44
Highlights	Super Bowl XVII champion, Pro Bowl (1983), NFL rushing touchdowns leader (1983), Washington Redskins Ring of Fame

John Riggins is a former American professional football running back who played in the National Football League during the 1970s and 1980s. Known for his power running and durability, he helped lead the Washington Redskins to a victory in Super Bowl XVII and earned Pro Bowl recognition late in his career. Riggins's impact on postseason play, his single-season touchdown accomplishments, and his later work in broadcasting and community affairs have made him a notable figure in American football history.

Early life and college

Born in Mason, Kansas, Riggins grew up in Centralia, Kansas and attended Sudbury High School before transferring to Kansas State High School area institutions. He played collegiate football at the University of Kansas, starring for the Kansas Jayhawks football program under coaches associated with the Big Eight Conference. At Kansas he shared backfield duties, developing into a powerful runner who drew attention from NFL scouting combine evaluators and National Football League franchises ahead of the 1971 NFL Draft.

Professional football career

Selected in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, Riggins began his professional career in New York City and became part of a Jets backfield aligned with figures connected to the AFL–NFL merger. After seasons with the Jets during the administrations of coaches linked to Weeb Ewbank’s coaching tree, he joined the Washington Redskins in 1976 via a trade that transformed the Redskins' rushing attack under head coach George Allen’s successors and the organizational leadership of Jack Kent Cooke. With the Redskins, Riggins played under head coaches tied to the legacies of George Allen and Joe Gibbs, becoming central to Redskins offenses that faced division rivals like the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles in NFC East competition. His tenure included multiple playoff appearances, culminating in the franchise’s participation in Super Bowl XVII and extended postseason runs through the 1980s.

Playing style and achievements

Riggins was renowned for a bruising, downhill running style that emphasized power, leverage, and pile-driving contact, traits compared with other prominent backs of the era such as Franco Harris, Walter Payton, and O. J. Simpson. He consistently produced high-yardage games against defensive units coached in the traditions of Bud Wilkinson’s contemporaries and NFL coordinators influenced by the West Coast offense evolution. In 1983 he led the league in rushing touchdowns and was named to the Pro Bowl; his postseason performance, including a pivotal rushing display in Super Bowl XVII, earned him accolades among postseason standouts like Jerry Rice and Roger Staubach. Riggins’s durability and red-zone effectiveness contributed to franchise records, appearances on lists compiled by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and inclusion in the Washington Redskins Ring of Fame.

Broadcasting and media work

Following retirement from playing, Riggins transitioned to roles in sports broadcasting and media, contributing commentary aligned with networks that cover National Football League programming and features on Washington-area sports talk outlets connected to the broadcast histories of ESPN, Fox Sports, and regional radio stations in Washington, D.C.. He also participated in alumni events and media projects alongside former teammates associated with Redskins championship teams, engaging with initiatives linked to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and community outreach programs tied to the franchise’s ownership and management structures.

Personal life and legacy

Off the field, Riggins has been associated with charitable activities in the Washington metropolitan area and engagements with civic organizations tied to former players and veterans, reflecting relationships with institutions such as the NFL Players Association. His legacy is remembered in retrospectives comparing running backs across eras, analyses by sports historians connected to publications like Sports Illustrated and The Washington Post, and commemorations by the Redskins organization during anniversaries of Super Bowl XVII. Riggins’s name appears in discussions alongside legendary figures from the NFL’s modern era and in halls of fame deliberations influenced by the evaluative practices of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee.

Category:1949 births Category:Living people Category:American football running backs Category:New York Jets players Category:Washington Redskins players Category:University of Kansas alumni