John Riggins
The Diesel
A first round draft pick of the New York Jets in 1971 from Kansas, John Riggins played with them until 1975 when he became the first player in Jets history to gain a thousand rushing yards. In 1976 he joined the Washington Redskins and stayed with them until 1985 rushing for 7472 yards and 79 touchdowns. Riggins finished his 14 year NFL career with 11,352 yards and 104 touchdowns. Named Super Bowl XVII MVP after a 166-yard effort that included a 43-yard score.
Image Gallery of John Riggins, Fullback 1971-1985
John Riggins Football Cards and Covers
John Riggins All-Time Career Statistics
| Â | Rushing | Receiving | Total Scrimmage Yards | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | # | Games | Starts | Carries | Yards | TD | Long | Y/A | Catches | Yards | Y/R | TD | Long | Touches | Y/Tch | YScm | Total TDs | |
| 1971 | 22 | NYJ | 44 | 14 | 14 | 180 | 769 | 1 | 25 | 4.3 | 36 | 231 | 6.4 | 2 | 32 | 216 | 4.6 | 1000 | 3 | 6 |
| 1972 | 23 | NYJ | 44 | 12 | 11 | 207 | 944 | 7 | 40 | 4.6 | 21 | 230 | 11.0 | 1 | 67 | 228 | 5.1 | 1174 | 8 | 2 |
| 1973 | 24 | NYJ | 44 | 11 | 9 | 134 | 482 | 4 | 15 | 3.6 | 23 | 158 | 6.9 | 0 | 19 | 157 | 4.1 | 640 | 4 | 6 |
| 1974 | 25 | NYJ | 44 | 10 | 10 | 169 | 680 | 5 | 34 | 4.0 | 19 | 180 | 9.5 | 2 | 32 | 188 | 4.6 | 860 | 7 | 3 |
| 1975* | 26 | NYJ | 44 | 14 | 14 | 238 | 1005 | 8 | 42 | 4.2 | 30 | 363 | 12.1 | 1 | 34 | 268 | 5.1 | 1368 | 9 | 5 |
| 1976 | 27 | WAS | 44 | 14 | 14 | 162 | 572 | 3 | 15 | 3.5 | 21 | 172 | 8.2 | 1 | 18 | 183 | 4.1 | 744 | 4 | 6 |
| 1977 | 28 | WAS | 44 | 5 | 5 | 68 | 203 | 0 | 12 | 3.0 | 7 | 95 | 13.6 | 2 | 53 | 75 | 4.0 | 298 | 2 | 0 |
| 1978 | 29 | WAS | 44 | 15 | 15 | 248 | 1014 | 5 | 31 | 4.1 | 31 | 299 | 9.6 | 0 | 33 | 279 | 4.7 | 1313 | 5 | 7 |
| 1979 | 30 | WAS | 44 | 16 | 15 | 260 | 1153 | 9 | 66 | 4.4 | 28 | 163 | 5.8 | 3 | 23 | 288 | 4.6 | 1316 | 12 | 5 |
| 1980 | 31 | Did not Play – Contract Dispute♦ | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1981 | 32 | WAS | 44 | 15 | 4 | 195 | 714 | 13 | 24 | 3.7 | 6 | 59 | 9.8 | 0 | 22 | 201 | 3.8 | 773 | 13 | 1 |
| 1982 | 33 | WAS♚ | 44 | 8 | 8 | 177♦ | 553 | 3 | 19 | 3.1 | 10 | 50 | 5.0 | 0 | 11 | 187 | 3.2 | 603 | 3 | 2 |
| 1983+ | 34 | WAS | 44 | 15 | 15 | 375 | 1347 | 24♦ | 44 | 3.6 | 5 | 29 | 5.8 | 0 | 14 | 380 | 3.6 | 1376 | 24♦ | 5 |
| 1984 | 35 | WAS | 44 | 14 | 14 | 327 | 1239 | 14♦ | 24 | 3.8 | 7 | 43 | 6.1 | 0 | 11 | 334 | 3.8 | 1282 | 14 | 7 |
| 1985 | 36 | WAS | 44 | 12 | 11 | 176 | 677 | 8 | 51 | 3.8 | 6 | 18 | 3.0 | 0 | 8 | 182 | 3.8 | 695 | 8 | 3 |
| 9 seasons Redskins | 114 | 101 | 1988 | 7472 | 79 | 66 | 3.8 | 121 | 928 | 7.7 | 6 | 53 | 2109 | 4.0 | 8400 | 85 | 36 | |||
| 5 seasons Jets | 61 | 58 | 928 | 3880 | 25 | 42 | 4.2 | 129 | 1162 | 9.0 | 6 | 67 | 1057 | 4.8 | 5042 | 31 | 22 | |||
| 14 Year NFL Career | 175 | 159 | 2916 | 11352 | 104 | 66 | 3.9 | 250 | 2090 | 8.4 | 12 | 67 | 3166 | 4.2 | 13442 | 116 | 58 | |||
| Â | Rushing | Receiving | Total Scrimmage Yards | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | Starts | Carries | Yards | TD | Long | Y/A | Catches | Yards | Y/R | TD | Long | Touches | Y/Tch | YScm | Total TDs |
| 1976 | 27 | WAS | 1 | 7 | 30 | 0 | 16 | 4.3 | 4 | 29 | 7.3 | 0 | 13 | 11 | 5.4 | 59 | 0 |
| Â | |||||||||||||||||
| 1982 | 33 | WAS♚ | 4 | 136♦ | 610♦ | 4♦ | 43 | 4.5 | 1 | 15 | 15.0 | 0 | 15 | 137♦ | 4.6 | 625♦ | 4 |
| 1983+ | 34 | WAS | 3 | 87♦ | 306 | 6♦ | 23 | 3.5 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 88♦ | 3.5 | 307 | 6♦ |
| 1984 | 35 | WAS | 1 | 21 | 50 | 2♦ | 8 | 2.4 | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |  | 21 | 2.4 | 50 | 2 |
| Total Career Post Season | 9 | 251 | 996 | 12 | 43 | 4.0 | 6 | 45 | 7.5 | 0 | 15 | 257 | 4.1 | 1041 | 12 | ||
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
- + – All-Pro Selection
- * – Pro Bowl Selection
- ♦ – Led the League
- ♚ – NFL Champion
For some good additional reading:
More Great Running Backs from Old School NFL History!
Jets and Redskins from NFL History!
