Riggins No. 44 Retired
Commanders will retire Hall of Fame running back John Riggins' No. 44 jersey in November
Key Points
In 1983, John Riggins posted a career-high 1,347 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns, a Washington single-season record that stood out in NFL history, and he added six rushing touchdowns in the postseason.
Riggins’ 1982 playoff run included four rushing touchdowns, and he delivered a 43-yard go-ahead score in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XVII, earning Super Bowl MVP honors.
Riggins’ NFL arc included being a first-round Jets pick in 1971, five seasons with the Jets before joining Washington in 1976, and finishing with 7,472 rushing yards and 79 rushing TDs for the Commanders; he later was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Commanders’ Ring of Fame in 1990.
The retirement will mark him as the third Commanders player in three years to have a jersey retired, with No. 44 becoming unavailable for future players.
The ceremony is planned for halftime of Washington’s Week 9 home game against the Los Angeles Rams on November 8, 2026.
The Washington Commanders are retiring Hall of Fame running back John Riggins' No. 44, the team announced. The ceremony will take place at halftime of a Week 9 home game against the Los Angeles Rams on November 8, 2026, according to The Washington Post.
Riggins is the franchise's all-time leading rusher, with 7,472 rushing yards and 79 rushing touchdowns over nine seasons in Washington. No. 44 will never be worn by another Commanders player again.
Riggins Delivered When It Mattered Most
Riggins' most famous moment came in Super Bowl XVII. In the fourth quarter, with his team trailing, he broke free for a 43-yard go-ahead touchdown run. Washington won the game, and Riggins took home Super Bowl MVP honors. That single carry helped define a franchise.
His 1982 playoff run was just as impressive. He scored four rushing touchdowns before the Super Bowl, then added one more on that famous postseason stage. The following season, in 1983, he set a Washington single-season record with 24 rushing touchdowns and 1,347 rushing yards.
From First-Round Pick to Hall of Famer
Riggins was drafted by the New York Jets in the first round in 1971. He spent five seasons in New York before joining Washington in 1976. He spent the rest of his career with the Commanders, finishing as the team's all-time rushing leader.
His legacy grew long after his playing days ended. He was inducted into the Commanders' Ring of Fame in 1990. Two years later, in 1992, he earned the game's highest individual honor — a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, according to Yahoo Sports.
Third Jersey Retired in Three Years for Washington
Riggins will become the third Commanders player to have his number retired in three years. He joins cornerback Darrell Green and wide receiver Art Monk in that exclusive group. Once retired, no future Washington player can wear No. 44, according to The Star.
The move reflects a broader effort by the Commanders to honor their greatest players. Washington built its identity on a powerful running game during the Riggins era. Retiring his number is a formal recognition of that legacy.
November 8 Ceremony Set Against the Rams
The retirement ceremony is tied to a marquee home game. Washington hosts the Los Angeles Rams in a Week 9 matchup on November 8, 2026. The halftime show will honor Riggins in front of a home crowd, according to The Washington Post.
It is a fitting stage for one of the franchise's biggest celebrations. Riggins gave Washington some of its best moments on the field. Now the team will give him one of its biggest moments off it.
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