He was already there in spirit, but we can officially add Riggo to the Washington football pantheon of the elite of Washington football!
The Commanders announced Thursday that they will retire John Riggins’ No. 44 at halftime of the team’s game against the Rams on Nov. 8.
“There are certain players whose impact goes far beyond statistics, championships and accolades; they become woven into the identity of a franchise. John Riggins is one of those players,” owner Josh Harris said in the team’s official statement. “Our fans not only admired him, they identified with him. He is authentic, unapologetically himself and deeply connected to the people around him. John has meant so much to this franchise, our fans and the game of football.”
Riggins, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1992, spent nine of his 14 NFL seasons in DC and is the organization's all-time leader in carries (1,988), rushing yards (7,472), and rushing TD (79). He was the MVP of Super Bowl XVII, which Washington won thanks to Riggo’s 166 yards rushing – the most important 43 coming when he took a fourth-and-inches handoff in the fourth quarter and rumbled for a touchdown that put the ‘Skins up 20-17.
He will become the seventh player to have his number retired, following Sammy Baugh, Bobby Mitchell, Sean Taylor, Sonny Jurgensen, Darrell Green and Art Monk.
