​John Riggins began his career as a standout at Kansas before becoming a dominant NFL running back and a key figure on a Super Bowl-winning team. Under new ownership and leadership from Josh Harris, the Washington Commanders are once again honoring a Kansas legend, with Riggins now joining the franchise’s revered pantheon. It was announced this weekend that Washington will retire Riggins’ No. 44 during the November 8 game against the Los Angeles Rams. He becomes the seventh player in the team’s history to receive this prestigious honor, joining the likes of Sammy Baugh, Bobby Mitchell, Sean Taylor, Sonny Jurgensen, Darrell Green, and Art Monk.
Before he electrified NFL defenses, Riggins etched his name in Kansas football lore. He spent three productive seasons in Lawrence, coming within reach of several rushing records and leaving a lasting mark on the program. Riggins finished his Kansas career with 2,659 rushing yards on 518 carries, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. That total placed him second on the all-time Kansas rushing list at the time, just 16 yards behind Gale Sayers, and he remains eighth on the program’s all-time rushing yard list to this day.
In 1970, Riggins led the Big Eight Conference in rushing attempts (209), rushing yards (1,131), and rushing touchdowns (14). He set a Kansas single-season rushing record that stood as the program’s best for a time, surpassing Wade Stinson’s previous mark of 1,129 yards set in 1950.
Riggins was selected sixth overall in the 1971 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He spent five years with the Jets before signing with the Washington Redskins in 1976. Although he did not play in 1980 due to a contract dispute, he returned in 1981 and helped Washington reach back-to-back Super Bowls, including a victory in Super Bowl XVII. Riggins was named the Super Bowl XVII MVP, rushing for 166 yards and a touchdown.
In Washington, Riggins remains the franchise leader in several key categories, including carries (1,988), rushing yards (7,472), and rushing touchdowns (79) as a Redskins player. He finished his NFL career with 104 rushing scores, a milestone that placed him among the era’s elite, as he joined Jim Brown as the only players to rush for 100 or more touchdowns at that time.
Now, the Kansas legend will be enshrined in Washington’s Ring of Honor, recognizing his lasting impact on the franchise. Riggins’ association with Kansas football is long-standing: he was inducted into the Kansas Football Ring of Honor in 2007, the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame in 1984, and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. He concluded his collegiate career as a three-time All-Big Eight selection, earning First Team honors in 1968 and again in 1970. This enduring legacy ensures that John Riggins remains a central figure in both Kansas and Washington football history, a symbol of excellence and perseverance that resonates with fans across generations.