John Riggins brought back a lot of memories last Sunday.
During halftime of the Commanders’ home game against the Los Angeles Rams, the Commanders honored the Hall of Fame running back by retiring his No. 44 jersey. No Washington Redskin or Commander has worn No. 44 in an NFL game since Riggins last wore it during his final NFL season in 1985.
“It’s time for us to do something we should’ve done a long time ago,” Commanders majority owner Josh Harris said during the halftime ceremony. “You all remember him running over everyone, beating the Dolphins, all of it,” Harris said. “John, this is your day.”
Riggins thanked the fans for being loyal and supportive of the players. But perhaps the most memorable part of the day was when Riggins became a little
emotional, his voice cracking as he said, “I shall always support the Commanders, but I will die a Redskin.”
POWERFUL: Legendary #Commanders running back and Hall of Famer John Riggins delivered an emotional message during his #44 jersey retirement ceremony in Washington.
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) November 11, 2026
“I SHALL ALWAYS SUPPORT THE COMMANDERS, BUT I WILL DIE A REDSKIN.”
Damn. What a quote. pic.twitter.com/Nm1IvnmpeI
The crowd loved it, the fan base loved it, former players loved it. It was so Riggins. It was so ‘Riggo’ being willing to say that he doesn’t care about political correctness. He doesn’t care about elitists canceling him. He knows the history; he knows the name was never launched to be disparaging of Native Americans. Secondly, when the new name Commanders was adopted in 2022, it was ‘the Diesel’ who spoke out, saying, "I can't understand how anybody who played under the old franchise name could want to be a part of anything Washington Commanders... All of a sudden, you’ve entered oblivion. He also said, “I feel completely disenfranchised.”
Riggins was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992, his greatest reward in sports; however, Sunday we saw some of the heart of the Diesel, or Riggo, as he was nicknamed in his playing days with the Redskins. Riggo came to the Redskins in 1976, following his first five seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets. In his nine seasons in Burgundy and Gold, the Diesel ran for 79 touchdowns. Most remembered, of course, is his iconic touchdown in Super Bowl XVII, on a fourth-and-1, where every player seemed to get his block, leaving Riggins to run through CB Don McNeal on his way to the 43-yd touchdown against the Miami Dolphins.
Harris has made a good-spirited effort to honor the great Redskins who, for some reason, the former owner refused to do. Riggins now joins Sonny Jurgensen (9), Sean Taylor (21), Darrell Green (28), Sammy Baugh (33), Bobby Mitchell (49), and Art Monk (81) as Redskins having their jerseys retired. This marks the third consecutive season Harris has led the efforts to retire a jersey (Green 2024 and Monk 2025).
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Legendary former Washington RB John Riggins' bold statement
