Biography
When it came to John Riggins, everyone knew what to expect. He played by his own rules. He ran hard, and ran his way. He was just as likely to show up to team functions in an army uniform as he was in a tuxedo. However, when it came time to play football, he was a no-nonsense runner whose strength and speed were only surpassed by his determination and toughness.
Riggins didn’t throw down as the game went on. The more times he got the ball, the stronger he seemed to get. The same applies to his NFL career. Where other running backs lost a step as they got older, John Riggins picked up momentum with each passing season in the NFL. He was 35 years old when he recorded his sixth 1,000-yard rushing season. While no one knew what to expect from Riggins off the football field, teammates and fans could always count on exceptional play when it came time to play football.
While still playing at a high level, Riggins shocked the world when he retired from football after posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He one day walked out of Redskins training camp in 1980 and announced his retirement.
Riggins played by his own rules. He was not happy with his contract and with football in general, so he decided to go with his own rules. After spending the offseason on his farm in Kansas, he returned to Washington in 1981 and said, “I’m bored, I’m broke, and I’m back.” Riggins decided that he was ready to play football one more time.
After Riggins’ humiliating declaration to return to football, he launched his second career as an NFL player. His one-year break was shown during his first comeback season, but by the end of 1982 he fully regained his form. Entering the playoffs, he approached Redskins coach Joe Gibbs and told him that if they gave him the ball 20 times a game or more, the Redskins would win.
Coach Gibbs followed Riggins’ advice. Over the next three games, Riggins averaged 148 yards and 33 carries and led the Washington Redskins to Super Bowl XVII.
In the Super Bowl against the Miami Dolphins, the Redskins relied heavily on Riggins. His biggest play came in the fourth quarter. Trailing 17-3 and facing fourth-and-one, Riggins picked up the slack, racing to his left and rushing 43 yards to the end zone. Behind John Riggins’ 166 yards on a record 38 carries, the Washington Redskins won the Super Bowl 27-17.
The following season, at the ripe old age of 34, John Riggins had his best year as a pro. At the time he retired, he was fourth on the all-time running list. It was a race that no one could have predicted. No one who didn’t understand the will and determination of John Riggins, of course.
