Commanders to Retire No. 44 Worn by Hall of Famer John Riggins

ESPN ^ | Jul 9, 2026 | John Keim

[nickcarraway]

The Washington Commanders are retiring Hall of Fame running back John Riggins' No. 44 -- more than 40 years after he scored a touchdown on one of the most famous runs in Super Bowl history. He becomes the seventh player in franchise history to have his number retired.

He'll be honored during Washington's game vs. the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 8.

Riggins played for Washington from 1976 to 1985 and remains the franchise's all-time leading rusher with 7,742 yards and is second with 85 touchdowns. His team-best 79 rushing touchdowns are 33 more than second place Clinton Portis.

Riggins, nicknamed "The Diesel," fueled an offense that led the organization to its first Super Bowl win after the 1982 season. He was named Super Bowl MVP after rushing for 166 yards -- including a 43-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1 with 10:10 remaining for a 20-17 lead -- in a 27-17 victory against the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 30, 1983.

During that four-game playoff run, Riggins set an NFL postseason record with 610 rushing yards.

In 1984, at 35 years and three months old, Riggins became the oldest player in NFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards.

Riggins once declared former team owner Dan Snyder had a "dark heart" and became estranged from the franchise, though that was briefly interrupted when he worked on the team's flagship radio station in 2016.

He remained outspoken about Snyder, however, and made it known he did not like the team changing its name to the Commanders. But when Josh Harris purchased the team in 2023, Riggins and numerous other alumni resumed a relationship with the team. He attended the 2023 season opener. He also attended an OTA practice this spring and talked to the team.

During a nearly seven-minute video put together by the Commanders for his jersey retirement, Riggins emphasized that he viewed himself as an entertainer. Late in a 21-7 second-round playoff win over the Minnesota Vikings, Riggins -- after rushing for 185 yards -- was removed from the game. Before he left, he stood at midfield and bowed to the crowd.

"It was paramount to me that I put a smile on their faces if I could because I was always seeking their approval," Riggins said on the video of the fans. "I operated out of fear and not wanting to disappoint people."

Seven years later, Riggins was inducted into the franchise's Ring of Fame. When introduced, he emerged from the RFK Stadium dugout in full uniform -- and bowed to the crowd at midfield. Riggins said on the video that he told former teammate Joe Theismann, also being honored that day, "I had to hear [the applause] one more time."

"Riggo, as many know him, helped define one of the most successful eras in our history," Harris said in a statement. "He played with a rare combination of physicality, fearlessness and personality that captivated fans and inspired his teammates. ... Our fans not only admired him, they identified with him. He is authentic, unapologetically himself and deeply connected to the people around him."

Riggins spent his first five seasons with the New York Jets and retired with 11,352 rushing yards and 104 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

Washington also has retired the numbers for Sammy Baugh (33), Bobby Mitchell (49), Sean Taylor (21), Darrell Green (28), Sonny Jurgensen (9) and Art Monk (81). All but Taylor are in the Hall of Fame; Green and Monk have had their numbers retired since Harris purchased the team.

"It's not just about the [jersey] retirement," team president Mark Clouse said. "It's really about continuing to build this connective thread between past and new. We had an embarrassment of riches, if you will, in legends that we wanted to recognize.

"These guys represent an incredible part of the foundation of what made [Washington] the legend that they were."

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TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: 44; 80s; commanderssoccerteam; getwokegobroke; johnriggins; nfl; nofansleft; redskins; riggins

[nickcarraway]

Is it true that Riggins won't say Commanders? (He never played on the Commanders.)

[BenLurkin]

“Loosen up Sandy baby” was classic.

[TnTnTn]

👏👏👏👊

[um1990]

“Commanders” - What a Joke!

[Carry_Okie]

The Washington Commanders

A name meant to please the bureaucrats and lobbyists who can afford to attend the games.

[Spit]

[Allegra]

Love Riggo. I even had a little crush on him back then.

I still remember him showing up unannounced and hammered with a couple of friends on Joe Theiesmann’s weekly local TV show shortly after the Redskins won the ‘ 83 Super Bowl. It was hilarious.

[nickcarraway]

LOL. It sounds like an early 60’s song title.

[packrat35]

He played for the Washington Redskins.

[blackdog]

"Thanks, but who and what are these Commanders?"

- John Riggins.

[HYPOCRACY]

Named after Biden’s vicious dog.

[dfwgator]

I remember when he had a mohawk when he played for the Jets.

[Reily]

Who are the Washington Commanders? Never heard of them. There once was a Washington Redskin football team but something happened to them.

[rlmorel]

I was a huge Deadskins fan back in the day, through the George Allen years and such, and Riggins, though a total and complete wreck as a person, marched to his own drumbeat.

I heard him interviewed some time back, and I found it impossible not to like him personally. He wrestled with demons and won.

And he ran like a Mack truck wrestling with demons.

[rlmorel]

He marched to the beat of his own drum...and he got sober. I enjoyed listening to him talk about those days. He has it in context, and it isn’t him today.

Not wholly, at least...:)

[rlmorel]

I heard an interview of former NFL running back John Riggins where they convinced him to talk about the time he was invited to attend a Washington Press Club's annual black-tie event, "Salute to Congress," at the Washington Sheraton. He was a guest of People magazine. He famously called Justice O'Connor "Sandy Baby"!

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Riggins said: "I had been with a good friend, had a few beers, didn't bother to eat, went down to the hotel where the party was, walked in and, God I don't know why, because I hardly ever drink it, I had a double scotch. And I had another."

Riggins approached his table, where he was seated with governors, magazine editors and, of course, a Supreme Court justice. Riggins saw Virginia Governor Chuck Robb. “Gooo-be-na-tooor!," he said, according to Robb. "I understand that we’re going to be seated at the same table tonight!” The dinner began.

Riggins continued: "I continued to drink my dinner..." after refusing food. Governor Robb explained: “There were two bottles of red wine and John, in a very expressive mode, managed to mow both of them down. So they brought two more bottles of red wine, also within John’s reach, and [he] somehow managed to knock them over. So, at this point, the table is covered with red wine.”

O'Connor was about to leave because she had an early commitment the next morning. Riggins approached O'Connor's seat, put his arm around her husband, looked over at the first female justice in history and uttered the famous line, "Come on, loosen up, Sandy baby, you're too tight."

Riggins then fell asleep on the floor, during a gaggle of dignitaries' speeches, which included then-Vice President George H.W. Bush.

O'Connor's husband said that she found the whole incident amusing...when Riggins tried his hand at acting after retiring from football, O'Connor was at his first performance. She gave him a bouquet of roses during the curtain call.

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The reason I bring this up, is that when People Magazine (who invited him) called and complained about his conduct, Riggins (a known wing nut and alcoholic at the time) said something like:

"Hey! What are you bellyaching about? You knew what I was when you invited me!"

Love it. And he is so spot on. They had to know what they were getting.

[kawhill]

John Riggins, the Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, was born in Seneca, Kansas, and grew up in the small town of Centralia, Kansas, where he attended Centralia High School. He went on to play college football for the Kansas Jayhawks at the University of Kansas.

[ifinnegan]

The what?

Commodores was a band.

Commanders are cigarettes.

[sphinx]

“Loosen up, Sandy baby.”

I forget the details. Was he passed out drunk under the table and they woke him up?

[11th_VA]

Loosen up Sandy baby”

Lol - my first memory as well …

[DIRTYSECRET]

2 guys had to hold him up when he left.

I do believe the quote was “Lighten up Sandy baby, you’re too uptight.”