John Riggins began as a star at Kansas before becoming a dominant running back for a Super Bowl winning team.
The Washington Commanders continue to do the right thing under new owner Josh Harris and it now includes the former Jayhawk great.
It was announced over the weekend that Washington will retire Riggins’ No. 44 during a Nov. 8 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Riggins will be the seventh player in franchise history to receive this honor — joining Sammy Baugh, Bobby Mitchell, Sean Taylor, Sonny
Jurgensen, Darrell Green, and Art Monk.
Before Riggins was helping the then Redskins bring Lombardi Trophies to D.C., he put together a legendary career at Kansas.
Riggins spent three years in Lawrence where he approached multiple rushing records. He finished with 2,659 yards on 518 carries (5.1 per carry). This was good for second in the program at the time, just 16 yards short of Gale Sayers. Riggins still ranks No. 8 all-time in rushing yards in program history.
In 1970, Riggins led the Big 8 in rushes (209), yards (1,131), and touchdowns (14). He set the single-season rushing record for the program at the time, topping Wade Stinson’s 1,129 yards in 1950.
Riggins was selected sixth overall in the 1971 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He spent five years in the Big Apple before signing with the Redskins in 1976. He did not play in 1980 due to a contract disput but returns in 1981 before helping Washington reach back-to-back Super Bowls, including a victory in Super Bowl XVII. Riggins was named MVP after rushing for 166 yards and a touchdown.
Riggins is still the franchise leader with 1,988 carries, 7,472 yards, and 79 touchdowns as a member of the Redskins. He ended his career with 104 scores, joining Jim Brown as the only players to rush for 100 or more touchdowns at the time.
The Kansas legend will now be put in the Washington Ring of Honor. He was inducted into the Kansas Football Ring of Honor in 2007, Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame in 1984, and Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. Riggins ended his career in Lawrence as a three-time All-Big 8 selection, including First Teams honors in 1968 and 1970/
