Hogs Haven
Editor’s note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles a collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!
The Athletic (paywall)
In his nine seasons with Washington, Riggins topped 1,000 rushing yards four times and led the NFL in rushing touchdowns twice. Including the playoffs, he had 25 100-yard rushing games for Washington.
Riggins’ most iconic performance came during the 1982 postseason, when he ran the ball 38 times for 166 yards to lead Washington to a 27-17 Super Bowl XVII win — the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory — over the Miami Dolphins. On fourth-and-inches with about 10 minutes remaining, Riggins took a handoff and powered his way upfield for a 43-yard go-ahead score. He was named Super Bowl MVP, but his remarkable performance stretched throughout that entire postseason; in four games, he amassed 610 rushing yards on 136 carries, totals that still stand as NFL postseason records.
He produced more in his 30s (5,683 rushing yards, 71 rushing TDs) than in his 20s (5,669 yards, 33 TDs), an astounding feat considering he didn’t play at all in 1980; he sat out the season because of a contract dispute, then returned for Joe Gibbs’ first year as Washington’s head coach.
He finished his 14-year NFL career with 11,352 rushing yards and 104 rushing touchdowns, to go with 2,090 receiving yards and 12 TDs.
Riggins…will have his No. 44 jersey number retired during at halftime of the Washington Commanders’ Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
Riggins will be just the seventh player in franchise history to have his jersey number retired, joining Sammy Baugh, Bobby Mitchell, Sean Taylor, Sonny Jurgensen, Darrell Green and Art Monk as the only players to receive the honor.
Riggins was known for his physical running style and unrelenting work ethic that used to wear down opponents throughout games. He was also known for his durability, as he played in 175 games over the course of his 14-year career. At the time of his retirement following the 1985 season, he was the oldest player to rush for 150-plus yards in a single game; have at least 30 rushing attempts in one game; have 1,200 rushing yards in a season; record at least 10 rushing touchdowns in a season; and record the most rushing attempts after his 30th birthday, among numerous other records that highlighted his longevity.
The current management of the Washington Commanders has struggled to reconnect with fans who have not accepted the name change. Acknowledging some of the legends who built the foundation they inherited is at least a place to begin.
The Harris ownership group has made an effort to correct some of...
