The Washington Commanders will retire Hall of Fame running back John Riggins’ No. 44 jersey during a halftime ceremony on November 8, 2026. The franchise announced the decision, honoring the Super Bowl XVII MVP who remains the team’s all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdowns. The ceremony will take place during the team’s Week 9 home game against the Los Angeles Rams.
A Franchise Icon Honored
John Riggins, who played for Washington from 1976 to 1985, will become the seventh player in franchise history to have his number retired. He joins an exclusive list of Washington legends who have received this honor, including Sammy Baugh (33), Bobby Mitchell (49), Sonny Jurgensen (9), Sean Taylor (21), Darrell Green (28), and Art Monk (81).
“Riggo, as many know him, helped define one of the most successful eras in our history,” Commanders owner Josh Harris said in a statement. “He played with a rare combination of physicality, fearlessness and personality that captivated fans and inspired his teammates.” Harris added, “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.”
Defining the “Hogs” Era
Riggins was a first-round pick by the New York Jets in 1971 but signed with Washington in 1976. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 230 pounds, he became a lynchpin for the franchise’s offense. His physical running style and unrelenting work ethic allowed him to wear down opponents throughout games. His running style led to him being named an honorary member of “The Hogs”—the legendary group of offensive linemen and tight ends in the 1980s and early 1990s known for their dominance and ability to control the line of scrimmage.
During Washington’s 1982 Super Bowl run, Riggins led the postseason in rushing attempts (136), yards (610), touchdowns (4), yards per game (152.5), touches (137) and first downs (34). Those attempts and yards during that run remain NFL records for a single postseason. In the Super Bowl XVII matchup against the Miami Dolphins, with Washington trailing 17-13, Riggins took a handoff on fourth-and-inches and turned it into a 43-yard touchdown run that gave Washington the lead for the first time that night. Washington went on to win the game 27-17, and Riggins was named the Super Bowl MVP for his 166-yard performance on 38 carries.
Longevity and Statistical Dominance
Riggins spent the first five seasons of his career with the Jets before moving to Washington, where he posted four 1,000-yard seasons. His career best of 1,347 yards came in 1983, a season in which he set a franchise record by running for 24 touchdowns—a mark tied for sixth in NFL history—and added six more scores in the postseason. He led the league in rushing touchdowns in both 1983 and 1984.
Riggins is the franchise’s all-time leader in rushing yards (7,472), rushing touchdowns (79) and rushing attempts (1,988). He averaged 65.5 yards per game and 3.8 yards per carry. He was the second player to rush for 100 touchdowns in NFL history, following Jim Brown. At the time of his retirement following the 1985 season, he held records for being the oldest player to rush for 150-plus yards in a single game, have at least 30 rushing attempts in one game, have 1,200 rushing yards in a season, and record at least 10 rushing touchdowns in a season.
Life Beyond the Field
Riggins was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992. His connection to the fans remained strong; when he was named to the franchise’s Ring of Fame, Riggins ran onto the field in full uniform, which earned a raucous applause from the fans at RFK Stadium. When asked later about the decision, Riggins said he “just had to hear [the roar of the crowd] one more time.”
In the early 1980s, Riggins established “Riggo’s Rangers,” his foundation which has supported military veterans for decades. In 2025, the Maryland local was honored with the inaugural Morty Gudelsky Community Hero Award for his commitment to giving back to underserved populations and causes in the Washington Metro region. Following his retirement, Riggins pursued a broadcasting career, hosting “Riggins and Russo” starting in 1998, serving as a color commentator on Westwood One for Sunday Night Football in 2006, hosting The John Riggins Show, co-hosting “Sirius Blitz” with Adam Schein in 2008, and contributing to “Redskins Report” as an analyst.
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