#5 John "Diesel" Riggins’ Run To Glory | NFL | Top 10 Super Bowl Plays

[@TracieHolladay]

Rest in peace Chief Zee.

[@nickhalden9220]

He's gone?

[@codecmgs]

@@nickhalden9220 yeah he passed away a long time ago. Legend!

[@feloniousfloyd2203]

He’s still alive, fa&&ots.

[@kevinburke4544]

Yes indeed, he put alot of smiles on my face during the games😊

[@nickhalden9220]

That guy has passed???

[@nikonmark37814]

My all time favorite Redskin and running back. I'm from the DC area and we loved him, he was a renegade and man could he play. He dominated the playoffs and the super bowl.

[@randymillhouse791]

Do you recall when the Redskins arrived in, I think Dallas, wearing COMBAT FATIGUE clothing? That was Riggo. He said "This IS a war."

[@thevmanvj]

“The Diesel” would run through you, around you, didn’t matter. John would do 30 + carries a night. Defenses even knew what was coming....and for a guy with his power, his speed was dazzling.

[@hodell82]

I remember playing running back as a kid, and the coaches would always say "when you get hit, keeps your legs moving". When I saw that run by Riggins, I understood why.

[@johnrush521]

I'm a Patriots man from Boston but I loved John the Diesel Riggins back in the day . Loved watching that crazy ass locomotive !

[@andan04]

The run on 4th and 1 told of Riggins' power and speed, but the ball toss to the ref afterward (0:56) told of his character. No celebration, no taunting, no "look at me, everybody!" He did his job, and now he'll make his way to the sideline. He was the best.

[@justinpettit3432]

Smh

[@GaryClutchClark]

Not sure why you are shaking your head. He's right.

[@Number1Dougster]

"No celebration, no taunting, no 'look at me, everybody!'"Agreed. He was classy as well as dominant.

[@mitchyoung8791]

Same thing with Gale Sayers.

[@ronin120]

@@mitchyoung8791 And Barry Sanders if I recall correctly.

[@richardcastillo6236]

Riggins and the Redskins are the best. I have my garaged all Redskins out. Everyone who see's' it can't believe how cool it is. And I'm from calif. And been a Redskins fan since 1972.

[@dennismazza4233]

@Richard Castillo : I've been following the Washington Redskins since 1970. John Riggins would have more career rushing yards and touchdowns had it not been for two idiots. I could not stand the way HC George Allen UNDERUTILIZED John Riggins in his game plans. Then came along HC Jack Pardee who was a clueless cement head. So glad that HC Joe Gibbs understood and used the talents that Riggins gave the Redskins and its fans.

[@httrcarson235]

It’s always HTTR4LIFE

[@dalegriffin6768]

John Riggins was not only big, he was a freaking sprinter, the dude was a freak of nature, very athletic

[@sitizenkanemusic]

Riggins is one of my all time favorite players even though I'm not a redskins fan. Watch his "Football Life" episode. It'll make you appreciate him even more.

[@ronin120]

I am a skins fan and started watching football the season after this Super Bowl. His is the only jersey I would buy.

[@leerussel2033]

John Riggins Thanks for the memories. You were one of the best. Hail to the Redskins

[@LowkeyFish]

HTTR!

[@HunkMine]

wasn't expecting that last line lol

[@Tyrunner0097]

That's classic Riggo.

[@donarthiazi2443]

I'm just glad that Chief Zee never had to see what PC did to his beloved Redskins!! _Rest in Peace Chief... you are remembered very fondly!!_

[@kateoneill7226]

God bless John Riggins...and Chief Zee of blessed memory

[@bison4me]

The "Head Dress Guy" was Chief Zee who passed away this past spring.

[@SJM6791]

bison4me-Guys like Chief Zee made the NFL great. Today, they’d throw him out of the stadium for being offensive to Native Americans.

[@Freddie_Rock]

He was always amazing to see at games.

[@quasimoto7662]

You do realize redskins fans would never throw him out. The 5 protesters in front of the stadium would cower at the sight of chief zee Rest In peace

[@redskinsman10]

RIP Chief Zee

[@luisbohorquez7096]

Crank up that diesel, crank up that diesel , Vroom....Vroom........ He was awesome . Sorely missed ....R.I.P Chief...Httr...

[@thetruth5479]

You cant take anything away from Mcneil he was the best at his position for years not to many guys could stop Riggin's one on one!!!

[@dcaa62817]

Scores the touchdown and flips the ball to the ref. No goofy dancing, prancing, showboating idiocy, just playing good football. Love John Riggins.

[@hodell82]

What doesn't get talked about much is the block that #39, Otis Wansley, threw on Miami linebacker #55, Earnest Rhone. Wansley literally launched himself in the air and took out Wansley, leaving only one defender for Riggo to deal with.

[@Big.Deez1999]

Easily Frank Herzog's greatest call.

[@thephotodoc1]

This is the GREATEST SINGLE PLAY in NFL history. Here's why: 1. IT HAPPENED IN A SUPER BOWL. For any individual play to the be considered the greatest it has to happen with the most on the line and against the very best competition. 2. IT WAS SCORING PLAY. The Tyree catch and the Swan catches were spectacular to look at but didn't score a single point. Other plays like "The Tackle" or "Wide Right" also just kept the score the same. 3. IT WASN'T A KICK. Last second field goals are exciting but for a sport like pro football to say it's single greatest play was made by a kicker would be embarrassing. 3. IT WAS A COME-FROM-BEHIND, GO-AHEAD SCORE. The Redskins were losing 17-13 with 10:10 left in the game. Other famous plays like Elway's helicopter TD or Warner to Bruce's touchdown broke ties that may or may not have been broken on the very next down anyway. 4. IT WAS FOURTH DOWN. This is significant because it separates this play from others that are considered great. Unlike other notable Super Bowl plays, if Riggins does not shake off the tackle just behind the line of scrimmage the Dolphins take over on downs and have the ball on the 42 yard line in the 4th quarter with a 4 point lead versus a team they have held to only 1 touchdown at that point. The Dolphins' "Killer Bees" defense was #2 in the NFL that season. 5. IT WAS 43 YARD RUN FROM SCRIMMAGE. It was Riggins longest run of the season and one of only a dozen runs by any team the entire year. 6. IT FOOLED NO ONE. The Redskins handed the ball to Riggins 38 times that game. Everyone knew it was coming and yet the 'Skins still executed it. It was the ultimate, in-your-face, ball control, tear-your-opponent's-heart-out 4th quarter rushing score. 7. THE REDSKINS WERE UNDERDOGS. The Dolphins were a 3 point favorite. Montana to Taylor (XXIII) was a good play but it was ultimately it was a case of the 7 point favorites completing a 10 yard pass to win a game by 3.

[@zac5434]

Tru he was the best and im glad he is related to me

[@christianmargris]

Anyone has is own preferences. Best play scoring in Super Bowl history ? James Harrison pick six of Kurt Warner. It was at the end line and interception that denied 7 points to the Cardinals, last play of the half 100 hundred yards run record at the time, a 14 point swing thanks to one of the greatest defensive play in the SB. And it was a throw from Kurt Warner an Hall of famer QB. Best play than Riggings run by this standard for me. For none scoring play I will go with Malcolm Butler INT or Julian Edelman Amazing catch un Super Bowl LI.

[@pauljohnson3340]

@@calvinmontague4615 I remember them showing that in the replay after the play. He was following Don Warren's motion and slipped. Riggins must have been a monster to tackle.

[@johnjiii414]

Best play ever. 👍🏿

[@dcbandnerd]

Like a semi heading down I-395.

[@ethanriggins4798]

Man Im glad to be related to the diesel.

[@cgottabag7654]

Lies

[@koaguilds]

@@cgottabag7654 You're obviously not familiar with his kin.

[@oldprankster7606]

I remember one of the Dolphin's defensive players saying, after the game that "When you hit him, it hurts".

[@busternsam]

what people never talk about is if you watch the whole play, McNeel, on changing back directions from the motion, slipped and fell all the way to the ground and still got back over to try to make the tackle.unbelievable speed

[@tristramcoffin926]

I was 10 and I haven't jumped up and down and screamed my head off like I did the day that Riggo made that run.

[@mikeyoungblood1642]

The radio producer who had the presence of mind to hit that Diesel sound button at the right time of the call is the real MVP

[@randymillhouse791]

I know that John Riggins was not born and raised in the DC area. But he had that attitude that either fit in well with who we were OR educated us as to how to make our own luck. I feel so blessed to have grown up watching the Redskins of that era. The Smurfs, the Hogs, THE DIESEL! That team was alternative rock and ROLL! So were Jim McMahon's Bears. There was just a magic going on like the Beatles.

[@jerrymejia6517]

John Riggins is my friend's grandpa or something like that

[@richym3899]

I am John Diesel

[@tylerdoestech4299]

Liar

[@user-sz1td5bu3y]

Stop trying to get attention from other people’s fame

[@johnconnell4503]

My dad knows a guy who saw a guy who talked to a guy who rode with a guy who once whipped johns ass because he was too drunk to do it..

[@jimhayes7594]

I got tooth knocked out in the 7th grade playing tackle football with John and his brother Frank me and John won when the giant blew his trombone meant it was time to get home so it was last play we had the ball and I faked the ball to John and ran for the touchdown my brother kicked me in the mouth and broke my tooth off at the gum line.

[@jonathanblaze1648]

I always felt he looks like Tommy Lee Jones. Riggins was a different kind of dude!

[@hodell82]

He was. Before he came to the Redskins he was with the Jets, and he had a mohawk And this was when mohawks were NOT fashionable.

[@TheXPERT891]

I have a poster of mcneil missing riggins and its awesome

[@Colstonewall]

"Miss" him? No, McNeil didn't miss him, he hit him squarely and got run over, lol.

[@AirLanMan]

This Super Bowl remains the only NFL game I've ever attended. The house about came down when Riggins broke free. The Rose Bowl is a huge place and with over 100,000 people in the stands it got quite loud!

[@pauljohnson3340]

I still remember the replay. Don Warren went in motion from left to right and came back. McNeal slipped so he couldn't hit Riggins squarely.

[@gardcorelegend]

That was a man playing with boys, crank up that Diesel!!

[@backedup39]

The play that made my brother a lifelong Washington fan.

[@alexthrailkill]

The picture of Riggins and McNeal was in my basement growing up. My dad was at the game, in the ‘skins marching band. Epic moment.

[@stephenel761]

One of the best, The “Diesel” John Riggins!!!

[@Hugging_Cactus]

Riggo was a legit Track star at Kansas. he ran the 100 and 200 and relays and some other stuff.

[@NickWuebker]

Riggins wouldn't just run over you, he'd run by you. He had some good speed for 235 pounds.

[@johnliberty3647]

Yep, he avoided contact or minimized contact before he lowered the shoulder but he could lower that shoulder if he had to.

[@rockabye_baby187]

Hell yeah

[@poindextertunes]

thats a big 235 too. I would’ve guess 250-260 the way linebackers are bouncing off him

[@NickWuebker]

@@johnliberty3647 He wasn’t afraid to lower that shoulder and put a linebacker on his ass.

[@richardpeetrinpeetrin9817]

John "The Diesel" Riggins Hall Of Famer, 6'2" 238lbs.

[@bluesslider76]

My favorite of all time. 44 diesel! HTTR!

[@MrJlee93]

John riggins lives in the same neighborhood as me. no joke. his daughter went to the same high school as me

[@zac5434]

I believe you if you believe me im his cousin no joke my last name is r

[@zac5434]

riggins

[@MrJlee93]

+NotBryce0408 I believe you. it's hard to believe people here on KZbin. that icon doesn't exactly make me believe you more.

[@koaguilds]

South Lakes High in Reston?

[@MrJlee93]

@@koaguilds I wish. For his privacy, I am not naming it. Also this was years ago

[@scottpeart5857]

Might be the most majestic filmed run in super bowl history !

[@kathycrawford5277]

Can’t take away from Don McNeil. He slipped and came back to try and tackle Riggins. I’m glad he slipped! 😁

[@kayhuncho1015]

One of the best

[@thamoj0]

I was about 11 years old when i saw this happen on TV. I have no memory of anything football prior to this. I remember hearing the playback, and hearing the horn sound, and the announcer yelling " hes gone!! hes gone!!" I was at the dinner table, and my back was facing the TV. I quickly turned around, and saw what the commotion was all about. A REDSKINS fan was born. I am now 50, and thought the name has changed, the memories are as fresh as they were 39 years ago.

[@jacobjones5269]

My mom let out a primal grunt on that play that truly startled me.. lol..

[@guardrail2897]

He was friends with my uncle. As a kid, my dad and I used to go hunting with him and my uncle.

[@3264headtrip]

I am 57 years old born & raised in DC. I WILL NEVER FORGET! Thank you Riggo, Hogs, Coach Gibbs, Art Monk, Darrell Green, Sean Taylor - PROUD REDSKINS! ILL NEVER BE A "comnanders" fa. EFF THAT GREMLIN dan snyder - I hope those ladies testifying against that terrible little man end up getting him removed from DC and hopefully locked up. 26 years of Dan Snyder and he has literally broken an NFL franchise and fan base.

[@shaneomack5018]

The thing we keep over looking is the o line made a massive hole for big John and by the time the dolphins player hit him he had the first down…..the rest was just epic

[@austindenotter19]

As Cowboy fan i hated that offensive line.

[@redskinfan7908]

That was the "old" Marshawn Lynch

[@robertgraham4230]

Best running back of all times.

[@maxwellmentlow5181]

I'm the biggest Redskins fan EEVVEERR

[@Chris-yy1ox]

+Maxwell Mentlow I'll be the first to shoot that statement down for myself. HTTR

[@AlexBigShid]

I'm sorry for your disappointment.

[@AnthonyCirillo1]

Oh look a little Cowboys fan they suck

[@hogsnation248]

Step down

[@asg1860]

Naw I am

[@rafaelramirez3180]

Great video...yep really great 👍👍

[@duanemarshall7612]

The running play seen around the world.

[@zacharydevan4107]

Pump up that diesel!

[@Fireyninjadog]

Frank herzog is so underrated

[@alexitzamaras407]

"I-Left, Tight Wing, 70 Chip"

[@patrickboozer8371]

Alexi Tzamaras it's I right 70 chip

[@joesandri5044]

Top g

[@bobbybosche4372]

I grew up in dc. HTTR baby

[@karlmoles6530]

I was proud to be a Skins fan then

[@httrcarson235]

HTTR Forever

[@MarkHoward660]

my favorite player the diesel

[@storm1086]

Loosen up Sandy baby. You're too tight.

[@Colstonewall]

And then he went to sleep on the floor for about 45 minutes, lol. And everyone just left him there and had a great time.

[@marlenegb3267]

Storm Supreme Court Justice O'Connor sent him roses when he went into the Hall of Fame. She loved him being at her table, they all did!

[@rayjr62]

And when the Redskins intimated that he needed to retire, he challenged anyone (and everyone) on the team to a 50 yard dash. Then they cut him.

[@joenock3466]

There is a reason his nickname was the diesel. The best running back ever, sanders and the others were great but this man iwas the best, watch his videos, if you like nfl videos, you will be carried away by the diesel, john Riggins

[@davidbusciglio5529]

One of the all time greats, for sure. A freight train in the open field. He didn't just shed tacklers. He stunned them !

[@godlife4171]

Anyone else always get the usaa or bud light commercial?

[@riccorich]

Beast mode before Beast mode

[@Colstonewall]

Goaline, I-left, tightwing, 70 Chip on white.

[@johnliberty3647]

Didier in Motion

[@thriftabout5110]

00:34 "Here comes the Diesel, here comes the Diesel" and again at 01:12. The late, great linebacker Sam Huff (#70 Washington Redskins, 1964-1969 / New York Giants, 1956-1963) was part of the great radio trio, "Sonny, Sam and Frank" on WMAL broadcasting the Redskins' games through the great Joe Gibbs era. People would turn down the sound on their televisions and turn up the game on the radio because QB Sonny Jurgensen (#9 Washington Redskins, 1964-1974 / Philadelphia Eagles, 1957-1963), Sam Huff and Frank Herzog were more informative, funny and quite frankly, lovable "Homers" when they called the games. Frank Herzog called the play by play and was the straight man to Sonny and Sam's frequent hilarity. 00:43 is Frank, calling Riggo's run, ending with his trademark call, "Touchdown, Washington Redskins!" I still get chills when I hear that line and I was a diehard Baltimore Colts fan. That diesel horn sound-bite was a constant during the games. In November of 2021, Sam Huff was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. RIP, Sam.

[@anthonyhicks8589]

I would love to see the Redskins perform somewhere near the glory days and yes I still call them Redskins.

[@Liberty-or-Death-1776]

0:18 Unfortunately Chief Zee passed away a few years ago.

[@manish8397]

pump up that diesel pump up that diesel

[@lbowsk]

Miami fans like to point out that McNeil slipped early in the play and got there a half-step late. I like to counter with a full season's worth of highlight films showing Riggins knocking aside and carrying multiple defensive players on his back as he motored up the field. He ran like Earl Campbell that season.

[@CosmicSoul13]

RIggo the GOAT 👏🔥🙌🐐

[@bryansolis3139]

It's a shame I wasn't born five or ten years sooner to have some notion of the '80s and early 90's WSH Redskins.... HTTR!

[@antoyal]

Are all #44 fullbacks awesome?

[@ericmatterson9905]

Earl Campbell, Mike Alsott

[@User-zzyyxxvv]

Got a story about the guy hat goes "rrrum, ruum .... pump up that Diesel". I used to work with a die hard Eagles fan, and according to him he lost all his front teeth when Eagles fans threw him from the stands at the old Veterans stadium. My coworker is known to embellish stories, but then I wouldn't put anything Eagles fans back then lol

[@msmith42001]

Hogs baby. Good blocking and Riggins can’t go wrong

[@DOC231520002]

Just scored and tossed the ref the ball....no showboating!

[@troyallen8223]

From a cowboy fan growing up in DC... Football fan before foolish pride that alcoholic kicked ass hard or harder than anyone on GameDay...😂Get it?🎉🎉🎉. Then damn hogs. I'll never forget though the year we only won one game. I hung my hat up on that win against those hogs. That's all we had to be proud of that year😢😅😂. Did some serious gloating about that Haaaaaaa... Fact😅

[@themegatronx9916]

Imagine John Diesel Riggins nowa days he'd make elite running backs like leveon bell ezekiel elliot or even marshawn lynch look like amateurs. Whew!

[@brettstaub-ex7fx]

The greatest

[@Stevesautopartsify]

The greats scored and just handed the ball to the ref!

[@29outlaw]

Riggins says that if he didn't break that lame tackle attempt, he didn't deserve his game check. The best part of that run is what he does with the ball after he scores.

[@femgoo]

The play: I-right, Fake Zoom, 70 chip, on 2!! That tells you complicated the play is!!

[@SSJ3rocks]

Typical Riggins response lol

[@SMEARGLEX75]

Thanks Riggins for ripping apart the Name. #HTTR

[@BrandonKohout]

Rev up that Diesel!

[@edwardrichard2561]

Diesel Power!!

[@porsche911sbs]

Jayhawk great

[@devonhardy7364]

DAM THAT MAN RAN HARD AS ANY OF THE OTHER GREATS IN HISTORY.... RIGGINS WAS A BEAST AND GLAD HE PLAYED ON MY SKINS AND HTTR AND WE WILL FOREVER BE IN THE HISTORY BOOKS !!!!!!

[@xSteeLer7]

James Harrison's 100 yard INT needs to be top 10 :(

[@mrkackerwacker]

it is

[@riddell74]

Old school … Riggins has the bar down the middle - Theisman with the single cross bar face masks … it’s tough smash mouth football the Redskins way.

[@joliecide]

They named Tim Riggins after John. That says a lot.

[@1969EType]

I wonder how many times on 3rd and 1 or 4th and 1 Riggins was ever stopped? It had to be a single digit...

[@jmuee]

I have John riggins football card

[@rockabye_baby187]

Riggo!

[@Hugging_Cactus]

i played ‘diesel’ in west side story in college at salisbury. just sayin 😎

[@PatrickB-x1l]

SHAQ BE KNOWIN ABOUT "LORD RIGGINS"!!!!😅USED HIS NAME!!I TOLD THEM,THAT RIGGS WAS A DIFFERENT BEAST!!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@amusement420]

As a Fins fan back in the day. Worst run ever. The one the Chiefs just broke off in LVI in Maimi reminded me of this.

[@johnpublic5169]

Deceptively fast. Wasn't like a cheetah. Got to top speed slowly, like a diesel truck.

[@Tyrunner0097]

He was a sprinter in college, so he did have some wheels. Combine that with his size, that's a lot of momentum you're not stopping. He was like Juggernaut.

[@adandelgado4069]

badman!

[@blueconversechucks]

ONLY figuratively though

[@darrellmurphy6663]

Yeah we remember them day I'll remember they call him the mack truck he ran over Defender and bite semi truck ran over a deer good busting wide open

[@jeff9515]

look at those helmets ? wow...

[@alexsolimani]

I personally think The Diesel looked better in a Jets uniform but that's just me lmfao

[@mitch1847]

It ain't braggin' if you can do it.