John Riggins

Running back John Riggins played 175 games in 14 seasons with the New York Jets and Washington Redskins. A Big Eight rushing champion who broke Gale Sayers’ rushing record at the University of Kansas, Riggins was the first pick of the New York Jets and the sixth player selected in the 1971 NFL Draft.

He played in New York for five years but signed with the Redskins in 1976 as a free agent. His nine-year tenure with the Redskins was interrupted in 1980, when he voluntarily sat out the season. Riggins was inducted into the Redskins Ring of Fame in 1990 and further honored by his alma mater when he was inducted into the Kansas University Ring of Honor in 2007.

The 6-2, 230-pound Riggins was not a spectacular running back but he was a classic workhorse ball carrier who specialized in the tough yardage in the big games. He carried 2,916 times for 11,352 yards and 104 touchdowns during his career. He also caught 250 passes for 2,090 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 13,435 combined net yards are among the best ever, as is his 116 touchdowns by rushing and receiving. Riggins played in the 1982 and 1983 NFC championship games and Super Bowls XVII and XVIII and made the most of his comparatively few postseason appearances. He was the Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XVII with a then-record 38 carries for 166 yards. He capped off his big day with a 43-yard touchdown run that clinched Washington's 27-17 victory over Miami. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992, he was recognized for his exceptional performance and contributions to the sport.

Riggins rushed over 1,000 yards five times in his career and over 100 yards in 35 games, including a then-record six in post-season. He rushed 251 times for 996 yards and 12 touchdowns in nine post-season contests. Riggins followed his Super Bowl XVII success with a sensational season in 1983 when he rushed for a career-high 1,347 yards and a then-record 24 touchdowns. Following that season, he was named All-Pro for the first time. After retiring from professional football, Riggins hosted "Riggo on the Range," a show on the Discovery Channel, and launched his own food and beverage line, including John Riggins Sausage and John Riggins 4th & 1 Pilsner. He also provides weekly commentating and pre-game analysis on Red Zebra ESPN 980 Radio and serves as a regional spokesperson for Papa John’s Pizza, leveraging his public persona to engage and motivate audiences.