The Washington Commanders announced Thursday that they will retire Hall of Famer John Riggins’ No. 44 during the upcoming NFL season. The ceremony is scheduled for halftime of the team’s Nov. 8 game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Honoring a defining player in franchise history
Riggins, a fan favorite known by the nickname “Riggo,” remains the club’s all-time leading rusher with 7,472 yards and 79 touchdowns on 1,988 carries. His signature moment came in the 1982 season’s Super Bowl when his fourth-quarter, 43-yard touchdown run helped put Washington ahead of the Miami Dolphins; Riggins was named the game’s Most Valuable Player and later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
“There are certain players whose impact goes far beyond statistics, championships and accolades: They become woven into the identity of a franchise,” the team’s controlling owner, Josh Harris, said in a statement. “John Riggins is one of those players. …Our fans not only admired him, they identified with him. He is authentic, unapologetically himself and deeply connected to the people around him. John has meant so much to this franchise, our fans and the game of football.”
The Commanders will make Riggins the seventh player in the organization’s history to have a number retired. He joins a list that includes Sammy Baugh, Bobby Mitchell, Sean Taylor, Sonny Jurgensen, Darrell Green and Art Monk — with Green and Monk among those retired since the team’s recent change in ownership.
What fans can expect
- The No. 44 retirement will be marked by a halftime ceremony on Nov. 8 during the team’s home matchup with the Los Angeles Rams.
- Riggins’ achievements with the franchise include a Super Bowl MVP and the club’s single-career rushing lead.
- The move continues a pattern of the organization recognizing past standouts since the change in ownership.
For many Washington fans, Riggins’ gritty running style and key postseason performances remain emblematic of the franchise’s proud moments. The team’s decision to formally retire his number will be both a tribute to his on-field production and an acknowledgment of his place in the club’s cultural memory.
| Statistic | Figure |
|---|---|
| Rushing yards | 7,472 |
| Rushing touchdowns | 79 |
| Rush attempts | 1,988 |
| Super Bowl | 1982 season — Super Bowl MVP |
The retirement ceremony is scheduled for later this year; the team has not yet released additional details about ticketing or in-stadium logistics for the halftime presentation.
Coverage of the Nov. 8 ceremony and any related events will follow as the franchise releases further information.
