1978 John Riggins: Comeback Player Of The Year

Hall of Fame Running Back John Riggins had a rough start to his time in Washington. Check out what happened that kickstarted his awesome career!

[@t4texastom587]

I'm a Tom Landry-era Dallas Cowboys fan, watching in earnest since 1963. "THE DIESEL" #44 was definitely one of my favorite "enemy" players. God bless our pro football heroes from a by-gone era 🏈

[@markgardner9460]

Yes, I wish more could be stated about the sacrifices they made that enabled the game to be so popular.

[@jammininthepast]

The Diesel was a great HOF player running in a terrific era of ball. He was big, strong & fast, he was illusive, he ran angry and with finesse, he had good hands a total package RB. I'm blessed to have seen him play - George Allen too. He was a back that you'd swear the defense was containing him and notice he had 85 yards on 16 carries with a quarter left. Riggo's TD run against a short yardage Miami defense was amazing balance and speed. Thanks brother you're appreciated. -bradd-

[@markgardner9460]

I don't think that he gets enough credit when the names of the top RB's is brought up. If you're playing a big game, he's one of the rare RB's who can control the clock and keep the ball out of the opponent's hands and wear them down physically and psychologically in the process. I'm glad that you were able to see him play! Thanks, Jammin'

[@jammininthepast]

@@markgardner9460 agreed

[@evanmeier3570]

RIP Rich Caster. Love those Redskin uniforms from that era. Riggins was one bad dude. Thanks for the video, Mr. Gardner.

[@markgardner9460]

Caster was very good - played both WR and TE. I have always liked Washington's uniforms - great color scheme. Thanks, Evan!

[@strothermartin5368]

"I'm board I'm broke I'm back" John Riggins 🎉

[@markgardner9460]

Riggo '81 quote after sitting out the entire '80 season. Great quote!

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

Lighten up Sandy Baby!

[@markgardner9460]

Wow! Another great quote by an inebriated Riggo.

[@strothermartin5368]

@@markgardner9460 He wasn't snickered. He said it at the beginning of training camp. I yearn for those days. Frank, Sam, Sonny Play by play color, WMAL Radio 63 power house station.

[@strothermartin5368]

@@stevenzimmerman4057😅

[@tracyyoung224]

This is real football, not the garbage we see now.

[@johnsullivan4025]

This was great and the music was just awesome 👍🏼.

[@markgardner9460]

Thank you, John. I appreciate that!

[@surfshack2]

What a hunk of a man. Incredibly inspirational running back and athlete. He seemed to get stronger as the game went on. The Redskins organization knew they had a winning combo with Riggins and Theismann and built them into Champions. And Riggins rose to the occasion. What a great career for a real warrior.

[@markgardner9460]

He was a great leader who lead by example. He'd run gassers after practice, then drink beer in a shed with his offensive linemen building strong rapport. Great guy.

[@jrewing6478]

Yeah rich played for bum Phillips great guy

[@docnoc66]

Hi Mark - wearing my Larry Brown maroon #43 for this video

[@markgardner9460]

Howdy! He's one of my all-time favorite RB's and I've got his jersey on my long want list. Hope you enjoy the video!

[@strothermartin5368]

​@@markgardner9460I have nothing but throw back jerseys, from those great years.

[@markgardner9460]

Gotta love it!!

[@jrewing6478]

One bad dude..Larry Brown

[@markgardner9460]

I've got his autobiography and it's a fine read.

[@jstube36]

Much respect to John Riggins. One of the most versatile players ever. He could play both HB and FB. And was faster that he looked. I have him in my top 5 if not top 3 all-time at FB. Of course when I think of Riggins, I think of the Hogs. One of the best OL to play this game. To put it lightly them together was not fun to play against.

[@markgardner9460]

One of the knocks that I've heard is regarding his low 3.9 yards per attempt, but that doesn't bother me. In the '80's, they relied on him almost exclusively. I think he ran out of a one RB backfield at times, so there was no mystery as to who was going to run the ball. Instead of throwing the ball when inside the 5 yard line, they gave him the ball and let him pound away...no matter how many attempts it took to get into the end zone. Those yards are the toughest to gain, so I don't have an issue with his YPC.

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

And the Jets offensive line wasn't the greatest early in his career.

[@markgardner9460]

They had Dave Herman and Winston Hill, but that's about it. Their Tight End Rich Caster had the body of a tall Wide Receiver and his forte was not blocking.

[@jstube36]

@@markgardner9460 Riggins was called on for a lot of short-yardage and goaline situations. So of course the yards per carry will be low. And I'm sure Joe Gibbs could care less about it. When they needed that one yard Gibbs went to Riggins and the Hogs.

[@markgardner9460]

That's right. The only stats that matter are the points scored and points surrendered.

[@DavidFobare]

Love the instrumental tracks on this video.

[@markgardner9460]

Thank yoy - I'm glad that you like 'em.

[@MartinMcCauslin]

John Riggins destroyed my Cowboys and kept my team out of the Super Bowl. I hated him for years but over the years my attitude towards our rivals has softened and I appreciate and respect the man. He aged like wine, got better with age...

[@markgardner9460]

Riggins had a rare career arc, in that his statistics did get better with age, as you pointed out. Thanks!

[@goblinzl1]

i liked how joe willie went over to see if riggins was ok. he just ran by yea man im good lol. keep giving me the ball.

[@jackiewilson4267]

Nice Video! My favorite running back. The "Diesel"

[@markgardner9460]

Good choice! I'm glad you liked the video.

[@jackiewilson4267]

@@markgardner9460 Love this channel. Nothing like old school football 🏈 ❤️ 🏈

[@markgardner9460]

Thank you for your continued viewing - I can't get enough of old school football

[@NigelIncubatorJones]

Great stuff, as always. Thanks for posting.

[@markgardner9460]

Thank you - I'm glad that you enjoyed it!

[@christianstough6337]

Calvin Hill played with Cleveland in 1978. He scored 7 TD's and had 623 YScm. He'd score 11 more TD's over the next three years before retiring. I nice coda to a great career.

[@strothermartin5368]

Good old RFK😢

[@markgardner9460]

The stands used to bounce when the fans got wild - loved seeing that.

[@strothermartin5368]

​@@markgardner9460I miss that Damn place😢

[@calibreeze007]

Pure professional. Riggins always looked to flip the ball back to a ref after scoring. Deceivingly quick feet and great hands. And on Riggins behalf, the play where Steve Niehaus sacked Kilmer. Riggins didn't miss a blocking from the looks of the play. Washington had a trap block assignment that center Len Hauss misses. The play looks like it was a possible screen or pass play after the fake handoff to Riggins. After shelling out the money to acquire Riggins, it's hard to fathom George Allen having such a talent basically become a blocking fullback. Surely Allen noticed what Riggins did in New York. Along with Calvin Hill, Allen could potentially have a similar backfield to the early 70's Miami Dolphins.

[@markgardner9460]

George was the GM, so it's even more mind-boggling as to why he didn't utilize his talents more regularly. Thanks for pointing out the trap block.

[@calibreeze007]

@@markgardner9460 And thank you for putting together these great videos!🙏

[@markgardner9460]

I'm hoping to continue to being able to do just that. Thank you!

[@ac9559]

Another fine job. Your commentary and pop ups add to the presentation instead of overpowering it. I saw him play but at the time the only Jet I was aware of was Joe Namath and perhaps Rich Caster. I did not know I was in the presence of greatness.

[@markgardner9460]

Thank you. Yes, Riggins showed signs of busting out in NYC, but they just didn't give him the ball enough to become a superstar there. It was a different story in D.C., obviously, later in his career.

[@jimbo3214]

As a Cowboy fan back then it broke my heart to see Calvin Hill in a Redskins uniform.

[@markgardner9460]

If the WFL Hawaiians games were televised, that would have stung, too, I imagine.

[@jimbo3214]

@@markgardner9460 wow I forgot about that.

[@markgardner9460]

Hill and Bob Lilly did not play in the '73 NFC Championship Game. If they're healthy and play, it's perhaps a different end result on the scoreboard.

[@jjw56]

Man, when you think how hard he ran the ball, especially with the Washington team, you have to wonder why Namath threw the damn ball! I watched the colts roll’em in 75 in Baltimore 52-19 I think. We got there really late to the game my first. We watched riggins score a touchdown third quarter.

[@markgardner9460]

I would have thought that Namath would have preferred a more balanced rushing/passing attack, but I guess the Jets defense wasn't all that great and he was forced to pass more often.

[@jjw56]

@@markgardner9460 yeah, when John was slowly resurrected in the early 80s nobody and I mean nobody remembered him as a jet!! Lol

[@denisceballos9745]

Heck of an NFL career he had; 104 rushing TDs, 12 receiving TDs, a boatload of long runs, and that huge TD run in the Super Bowl. 14 productive years in the NFL for a RB who ran as hard as he did is amazing. A worthy HOFer.

[@markgardner9460]

You're right, Denis. Most RB's who run that hard are lucky to last 4 years, but he really kept himself in top shape. Playing at least half of the games on natural turf helped, too, after he moved to Washington.

[@denisceballos9745]

@@markgardner9460 True. One of my favorite stadiums from that era was RFK. Shea too, but man, was it windy and a lot of noise from the jet airplanes at La Guardia. Noisy crowds, too, right up close to the field of play.

[@markgardner9460]

I dug those stadiums, too. For a batter to hit a home run at Shea in the '60's and '70's, they really needed to hit it on the screws cuz that was a pitcher's park.

[@denisceballos9745]

@@markgardner9460 Worked pretty well for the “Amazin’ Mets” of ‘69 and ‘73.

[@markgardner9460]

Great pitching and good defense up the middle was good enough to get it done. Both of those World Series were a lot of fun to watch.

[@dougB4454]

I forgot he was a high school sprint champ. Great video.

[@markgardner9460]

Thank you - I'm glad that you enjoyed it!

[@ronsmac]

Calvin hill had a career high 1142 yards in 1973 yet his longest run was only 21 yards. That’s getting a thousand yards the hard way.

[@markgardner9460]

Wow. That is paying a heavy price every time he carried the ball. He was a very good receiver, too. In his last four seasons with the Browns, he caught 107 passes for 16 touchdowns and an excellent 11.7 yards per reception. reception.

[@josephnicolino8529]

I have that card of Riggo with the Jets, 1973 i think.

[@markgardner9460]

That's some big frizzy hair on that '73 card........the first year that I collected cards.

[@johndemeen5575]

Never ran out of bounds. St.Paul,Minnesota.

[@markgardner9460]

Nope. He'd rather put a hurtin' on somebody instead!

[@goblinzl1]

WOW. i never knew riggins got CPY and im a big fan. i honestly believe he wouldve been the all time rushing leader if used correctly and didnt sit out a season. at least until barry and emmitt came along. thing is joe willie would use riggins a lot. hed soften up a defense to set up namaths long bombs. in 72 riggins had a good season and wouldve got 1000 yds if he didnt get hurt. a contract dispute with weeb ewbank and him not being happy hampered his production with the jets but you could see how great he was when he was healthy and focused. in 75 he got over 1000 yds. and left the jets. good move for him i was bumbed when he left. jack pardee and george allen were clueless on how to use riggins. when joe gibbs arrived thats when the diesel dominated. his postseason numbers will never be matched unless the NFL starts using RBs how theyre supposed to.

[@markgardner9460]

Great comments - thanks for providing. I can't believe that Pardee and Allen didn't utilize him as they should have. Absolutely head-shaking decision-making.

[@johnalejo8903]

HERE COMES THE DIESEL,,,JOHN ...JOHN.... JOHN,,

[@thedarkchild86]

typo .... thanks for the feature on him !!!!

[@lawrencecaplan6446]

as a Dolphins fan Riggins goves me nightmares! remember when he told Sandra Day OConnor to "lighten up Sandy!" at that black tie dinner? He was a throwback! So one Q Mr. G where are yiu from originally? Love the accent and "lets get after it!" Keep up the good work. LC

[@markgardner9460]

I'm from Minnesota originally. I'm glad that you enjoy watching my videos. Thank you for your comments, too!

[@lawrencecaplan6446]

I've had some fun trips to Mpls even while working! So where is your PFS&G world HQ located now? You should consider doing a short story on the "Brownie" (short little human guy) who used to catch FGs and kickoffs in the EZ at Municipal Stadium.

[@letsgorangers5264]

As a Giants fan, I liked seeing the interceptions by George Martin and Harry Carson.

[@markgardner9460]

George Martin's brother, Doug, was a very good Defensive End, too.

[@erob3878]

Bring back the native and feathers ....

[@shrapnel77]

A rare running back whose second half of his career was better than his first.

[@markgardner9460]

Great point! He had his two best rushing yardage seasons at ages 34 and 35 when he rushed for a combined 38 touchdowns. That's amazing!

[@thedarkchild86]

As a diehard Eagles fan ..... Washington can go to hell !!!!!!!!! BUT ..I always liked and respected John Riggins . thats for that feature of him .....

[@markgardner9460]

I have a Wilbert Montgomery video up my sleeve.

[@tommythomason6187]

Seems few could wrap him up. They'd put a hat on him, bounce off, and fall to the ground. He was strong.

[@markgardner9460]

He had a thick powerful torso and ran angry. Body types like his are long gone in the NFL.

[@hubertvale5132]

Still can't believe the Jets let Riggins go for nothing because they thought Namath's 99 years old man knees would hold up forever. SMH. Classic Jets move.

[@markgardner9460]

Then they draft QB Richard Todd 6th overall in the '76 draft and Namath was gone after the '76 season, so they made a terrible mistake.

[@ScottRossProductions]

Lighten up, Sandra, baby...

[@markgardner9460]

That's such a great quote. I didn't have to be there to visualize him saying that.

[@85passthru]

BLACK HIGHTOPS....👍👍👍

[@markgardner9460]

No sprained ankles for Riggo!

[@josephreilly6328]

ny giants # 64 John Mendenhal

[@kennethcollins6494]

I asked before about you doing a show on the coaches? George Allen, Hank Stram would be great shows

[@markgardner9460]

Yes, thank you. I have a long list of subject matter for videos, so I'm balancing them. It's a good problem to have.

[@hammer44head]

Beastman, i'll never understand for the life of me why the Jets got rid of him???

[@markgardner9460]

They didn't want to meet his salary demands, so he played out his contract option and became a free agent at the end of the 1975 season.

[@kennethcollins6494]

Richard Caster was a beast

[@markgardner9460]

6'5" 228 pounds was HUGE back then when he played Wide Receiver. Even though he didn't catch a pass for Washington in '82, he was on their Super Bowl winning team.

[@michaelangelioliebers7601]

I remember 4th and 1 play in the 1982 super bowl on a handful as Redskins beat Dolphins won the game 27-17 and set a record most tds in a year 23 in 1983 but list to Raiders in the super bowl 38-9 .

[@JoshSmith222]

His career stretched from taking hand offs from Namath to shaking Lawrence Taylor.

[@richardzink6026]

He should have been a Jet forever

[@markgardner9460]

Scott Dierking was OK, but he wasn't anywhere near Riggins talent.

[@kennethcollins6494]

Back then teams had 6 or 7 backs on the roster

[@markgardner9460]

That's right. I'm glad that you brought that up! Two RB backfields were deployed by everyone and RB's took so much punishment that teams needed that amount on their rosters.

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

Of course I'm still at work.. Riggo should be excellent subject matter 😅

[@markgardner9460]

I hope that you enjoy it, Steve!

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

On a unrelated subject I just found out Golden Richards passed away on Friday RIP, sir...

[@jtdavis62]

reporter asked John Riggins if the 1983 team could beat the current Commanders team. He thought for a second and said, “yes, but it would be close. Maybe 21-17.” The reporter asked, “really, why so close?” Riggins answered, “because most of us are in our 70’s.”

[@markgardner9460]

Classic Riggo!

[@davidhickey1830]

LOL

[@jrewing6478]

Of course they could...billy Kilmer was a winner

[@michaelhemphill8575]

"Riggins"was "half man" and" half monster"...that "5 yr" 1.5"million bucks"...was " great money" ..for the times'!! "George Allen" felt like ...that was a "lowball" offer of "1 mill" for "4yrs"!!

[@markgardner9460]

$300,00 was very good money almost 50 years ago.....and it still is.

[@michaelhemphill8575]

@@markgardner9460 "Agreed"!!

[@williamcasey8791]

riggins was right, the jets blew it

[@1161byron]

What happened to the big bull backs

[@markgardner9460]

No kidding. I miss 'em!

[@larrym5120]

He had the best whitefro ever in the NFL..

[@markgardner9460]

I'm trying to recall others, but am coming up empty.

[@MaxAmerica.Freedom]

We always joked the Redskins had only 2 plays : Riggo left and Riggo right.

[@markgardner9460]

That's about right, but The Hogs and Riggo made those highly effective. It really was old school football. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@MaxAmerica.Freedom]

@markgardner9460 thanks for the video. For years I thought he quit for a long time and came back in 79.

[@markgardner9460]

I remember an old saying "Hey diddle, diddle...Riggo up the middle!" I have no idea of where I remember that from.

[@MaxAmerica.Freedom]

@@markgardner9460 fans in the stands. They would sing it

[@markgardner9460]

That's cool!!!

[@davidhickey1830]

You'd think that Riggins would have won the 1981 CPOY but they gave it to Ken Anderson, who deserved it I suppose...

[@davidhickey1830]

I just learned that Joe namath was 1974 CPOY

[@markgardner9460]

Anderson won the NFL MVP in '81

[@davidhickey1830]

@@markgardner9460 Indeed! So MVP and CPOY in one season, impressive

[@richardzink6026]

Notice no celebration no players dancing around making gang signs. Hence t h e reason i dont watch nfl football. I watch college football instead.

[@mgomez5606]

His Redskins contract is peanuts today.

[@markgardner9460]

Some guys' yearly fines are more than what he made in one year.

[@goblinzl1]

they also brought in joe washington and terry metcalf who were nice players but could never match riggos production.

[@markgardner9460]

Metcalf only had 18 carries in '81 and then he was done. They had Benny Malone, too.