JOHN RIGGINS NEW YORK JETS 1971-1975

[@spryfolII]

My favorite all time player. Riggins was the perfect fullback. Could do any and everything you wanted. Devastating blocker, great hands out of the backfield, Could go inside and run you over, or hit the edge and outrun defensive backs for long touchdowns, and was as durable as they come. Riggins could and should be looked at as a top 50 all time player regardless of position. Riggins, if he hadn't had 3 years of blocking when he got to Washington, along with a missed season, he would've probably had more yards rushing than anyone, but at the same time, those years kept him relatively fresh so after he turned 30, did his most damage. Was always his best in the BIG games, when needed. A true Hall of Famer in any season and a money player. He could be counted on to give his best and usually did when called on. Riggins will ALWAYS be my favorite. Even more so now that he's been retired for over 30 years and there still hasn't been a fullback better. Riggins, a man's man and highly respected as a great teammate and person off the field too.

[@DubyaDaLastRepugPrez]

Riggins is easily one of the top 10 running backs of all-time, possibly in the top 5 of all-time. His stats would have been even better if George Allen had used him properly with the Redskins, as you stated. Plus, Riggins sat out the entire 1980 season in a contract dispute. Most people remember Riggins when he was older and a little slower with the Redskins, but the guy was a total freak of nature in his early years with the Jets. And Riggins is still the greatest back over the age of 30 all-time, as he proved with the Redskins. I grew up a Redskins fan and I still miss him almost 40 years later. My all-time favorite player as well, along with Joe Theismann.

[@moss8448]

one of the best

[@1972mrkleen]

My favorite player too. Old school Punisher!! Brock Bowers @ Georgia reminds me of Riggo, big & fast, agile when needed but don't mind running a defender over.

[@sonnysatar5916]

Also had The Hogs

[@mastersironmantarmstrong7148]

Older slower Riggins still outran entire Dolphin defense

[@Slimjim260]

We don’t watch modern football anymore in our home, but I love watching these old films

[@timothybogans3905]

absolutely i started watching football in the mid seventies through the eighties miss that era i can't stomach the sport now

[@timburr4453]

Love this NFL films tune this starts out with

[@nflxfiles]

"the pony soldiers" appreciate you watching & commenting.

[@dirtyharry7616]

just the sound of the music the voice's of summerall,stram,facenda,brookshire,trumphy,madden gives me chill's of day's of real pro football

[@oldgoat142]

Damn right.

[@mastersironmantarmstrong7148]

Love Facenda’s voice and narration

[@joe1972]

Thanks for creating & uploading this. I was 11 in '83 when Riggins ran to glory SBXVII. For me, that was the best moment I ever had watching football.

[@donjennings9034]

I know they mentioned Csonka and Brown, but they forgot Taylor, my personal favorite.

[@benighted09]

I like the way he hands the ball to the ref after scoring. No show boating...just doing his job.

[@moss8448]

the 'look at me and what I did gen' really sux

[@DWilliam1]

@@moss8448 “Look at Me”? The man wore a Mohawk. The showboating kinda started with Players like Gastineau. Never the less, he was a great back.

[@moss8448]

@@DWilliam1 was talking more about the current batch of players

[@billlawrence1899]

@@DWilliam1 The Mohawk was a statement for his dad. His old man was something of a tyrant, nothing John did was ever good enough, and as a kid John wanted a Mohawk. His parents forbid it, so that was John saying "Ok dad, how do you like me now"?

[@DWilliam1]

@@billlawrence1899 I saw the videos on his life also, but it still made him stand out. I know because I was there. I saw him play at Shea

[@captainkoo]

Unbelievable reflexes for a big guy ..

[@christophermclean3921]

He could play with todays players

[@thefarcenteristhepartyyoun4787]

well, I'll never forget 1982 buddy, thanks

[@Slimjim260]

RIP Steve & Ed Sable

[@jrnumex9286]

great football players and brain surgeons agree football is a head game

[@kingporter67]

The Jets trading John Riggins to the Washington Redskins was the New York Jets biggest, largest mistake in their franchise history!!

[@chriswells506]

Listening to Pat Summerall say "John Riggins" brings back a flood of memories.

[@glennhubbard5008]

I had no idea he played for the Jets.

[@hdvictoryford5329]

What always amazed me about JR was his speed. So many underestimated how fast he really was. So many times, you will watch him run and once passed the linebackers few if any ran him down. OJ once said about JR, he was deceptively fast. It did not look like he was fast till you see him blowing past people and then not being caught from behind.

[@paulomontero12]

Best football name in history of the game! John riggins

[@robertard9748]

The real question is how he played 14 years with his running style.

[@alfred4012]

Hey Robert, I think it was his KANSAS up bringing, those boys are corn fed,big ass guys, lmfao, something in the water,lol my favorite player, been a jets fan for 52yrs and counting, I live in west Virginia now, don't ask ! 🤣, anyway as a kid watching him with my father, my greatest memories, I'll never forget, peace ✌ out, GO JETS!

[@joe1972]

@@alfred4012 farm boy strength 💪. That and he was deceptively fast.

[@alfred4012]

@@joe1972 I here ya @joe, farm boy strength, got to be something in that corn,lmfao ,anyway thanks brother, have a good one!! Peace ✌ ☮ out!

[@joe1972]

@Alfred you too, Alfred. Btw, I was in northern Virginia until a month ago. Now in Dahlonega Georgia. Visited a girl I met about 8 years ago on Facebook who lived in Cass West Virginia. Nice four hour drive through the Shenandoah mountains to get to her... It was worth it! Lol... and I imagined living in that environment... woods & trailer... I know all of WV isn't like that, but I liked that simpler lifestyle... Anyway, like you I grew up watching Riggins with my father and will always remember that 'run to glory' SB touchdown he scored against Miami in '83. I was 11 way back then... Have a good one, Alfred.

[@alfred4012]

@@joe1972 thanks Joe, you made my day, peace ✌ out bro!! ✌

[@brainscott8198]

Riggo: "Man's game, bitch!!!"

[@nflxfiles]

Hilarious & true. And somehow conveyed it humbly, too. Thanks for watching & commenting.

[@jeromerizzo423]

He and Larry Czonka had this ability to just shake off tacklers while running straight through defenses.

[@johnnichols2710]

Surprisingly fast. Like sprinter fast

[@usamade5943]

In high-school in Kansas, he set the state record in the 100 yard dash.

[@thuggoe]

would love to see bavaro as a rb

[@RunnerBeanzDad]

I live in the UK, and I don't know much about American Football. But dammit - even I can see that John Riggins was utterly awesome.

[@nflxfiles]

Love it. Thank you for watching & commenting all the way from the UK.

[@docsmithdc]

He was special.I saw him play.

[@dfk09]

Think i'll spend this season watching old NFL Films highlights instead of the NFL games today...

[@kevinjohnson4599]

I agree with you 1,000% because this was when football was football. The NFL is now CRAP & isn't worth watching anymore.

[@johnliberty3647]

I just watch the games from the 1970's 80's and 90's. now, no more modern NFL for me.

[@MatthewBaumgarten]

Really amazing player, hard to believe the jets didn't make a return trip.to.superbowl while riggins was there

[@johntrickey9470]

Because the general offence was based on " Nameth" . The run schemes were secondary to the passing game, even though it was obvious Riggins should have been the featured offence threat then the passing.

[@johns3106]

Nothing fancy….just a bull charging through defenders. An seemingly unstoppable force!

[@radar0412]

Superbowl MVP Champion Fullbacks Riggins, Csonka and Franco Harris were all in some of their Prime ages from 1972-74. Let's face it. Fullbacks were just better back then.

[@karlcooper8460]

Szonka got more publicity but I always thought Riggins was better.

[@nflxfiles]

Strongly agree no disrespect to Csonka but it's not even close.

[@Yeomannn]

Riggins was definitely a better athlete.

[@mastersironmantarmstrong7148]

For sure

[@TTony-tu6dm]

I remember when he was with the Jets his roommate was a defensive back named Chris Pharasopolis and he also sported a major ‘fro. The two of them were notorious carousers around Manhattan and their antics put them in dutch with team officials on a couple of occasions

[@michaeltrana474]

Not only was he a great player, but also a true gentleman. After bulldozing his way for a score, he always handed the ball to the ref, and went about his business. Unlike many me me, players today. One of the greatest NFL players to ever suit up..

[@nflxfiles]

Well stated, my friend. Thank you for watching & commenting.

[@stevecvino]

A true professional. You feel good to watch him.

[@texasstadium]

Thank you for not showing Riggins against the Cowboys.

[@nflxfiles]

Ha you're quite welcome that comes later on w Skins though pretty sure series of stiff arms @5:17 is vs Cowboys. Thanks for watching & commenting.

[@michaelleroy9281]

He did play 2 games against the Cowboys while with the Jets, 1971 and 1975

[@martyemmons3100]

At least this video is giving John Riggins some recognition. This is the first video from that era that wasn't about 'Broadway' Joe Namath.

[@eddiehornedoful]

Funny how tackling changed. Now a days the defense would try to strip the ball away with it being exposed so much.

[@jakemitchell1671]

His best years were at Washington, because Gibbs emphasized him in the offense. However, he was better runner in his '20s and would have been one of the top 5 backs of all time if he'd been used correctly.

[@usamade5943]

The main reason he left NY was because he said he always knew he was going to be second fiddle to Joe Namath and the pass first offensive philosophy.

[@sonnysatar5916]

So glad he won a superbowl and I met him

[@sillambretta]

Damn! If Washington would've had Riggins in 72 there might not have been a perfect season.

[@kevinjohnson4599]

You're 1,000% correct. Things might have been different for the Washington Redskins if Riggins didn't sit out the 1980 season.

[@stevecvino]

No. George Allen wouldn't of given him the ball. Great thinking though.

[@rjam1974]

@@kevinjohnson4599 I think that brutal loss to the Cowboys on the last game of the season that unexpectedly ended their season played a role in why Riggins sat out. Had skins won they would have had home-field throughout but the lost kept them home. Before the game it was assumed that both Cowboys and Washington would have made the playoffs because Bears beat Cardinals 42-6 that resulted Skins losing points battle

[@johnpatrick5297]

John Riggins…a battering ram who the Jets squandered and became a HOF with the Skins….same old Jets🤡🤡🤡

[@donaldschmidt2990]

A remarkable physical specimen. Like a Greek God in shoulder pads. Not to stereotype, but there were few white runners that could do what Riggins could do. You could argue he was better than Larry Csonka, because of his comparable power and superior speed. Riggins was a hybrid almost on a level with Jim Brown for talent. If not quite his equal, he was certainly the next rung down. His durability was legendary. More than ten years into the league he was still destroying enemy defenses with the Redskins. Had he played behind a line equal to The Hogs earlier in his career, his stats would have been otherworldly. The "Diesel" was a train tatnever ran off the tracks. A one way ticket to the end zone. Probably top ten all time for talent.

[@robertwallace906]

Riggins was my all time favorite player in history. If he didn't sit that 1980 season out, he would have had the Redskins in the playoffs earlier. He would also have had another 1000 yard season.

[@joe1972]

My favorite football moment of all time was Riggins run to glory in SBXVII in '83. Being 11 years old made it even more magical, I think, than if I'd been an adult, but regardless, it always stuck out as the best.

[@RAJohns]

Washington knew what they doing getting John Riggins.

[@steveclapper5424]

The A train looked a lot like him.

[@luv4jets]

The Jets should have kept John Riggins . He should have been a careerJet. Imagine him sharing the same back field with Freeman Mcneil.

[@goblinzl1]

weeb wouldnt pay him. after 1972 he decided he wanted out of ny asap.

[@txkid1]

He had a contract dispute in 1976. He was traded to the Skins for my favorite player Moses Denson. I was outraged when the Skins made this trade and wanted to lead a protest at the Skins camp (I was 8 at that time). Turned out that Denson tore up his knee early in the season and never played again while Riggo made the HOF.

[@DWilliam1]

I don’t think Namath wanted him or to share the spotlight.

[@Slimjim260]

The Sable’s are rolling in their graves with today’s NFL,,, it’s just pathetic

[@Slimjim260]

Why did NY let him go???

[@ericmatterson9905]

He held out

[@terralwallace7646]

We can see,no need to point out Skin color. Brown Jew

[@billviola7884]

Riggins was the real deal...

[@oldgoat142]

In the pantheon of really stupid decisions, the Jets letting Riggins go has to be right up near the absolute pinnacle, like maybe second or third, although arguably number 1.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

John didn't always have his heart totally in it while with the Jets because he thought the coaches were idiots.

[@oldgoat142]

@@ryanjacobson2508 He would have that problem a couple of more times in his career.

[@anthonya2349]

LOL...The Jets are just pitiful. You know it may not be that they sold their soul to the devil for that Super Bowl and may just be suffering something along the lines of a Curse of the Bambino.

[@nflxfiles]

Ha very true though it could always be option A too. Thanks for watching & commenting.

[@terrytenley9327]

Well said.. he earned and trained hard.. horrible coaches..

[@Motoicon]

Like Larry Csonka but faster

[@karlcooper8460]

I always wondered about his ethnicity everyone always assumed he was white but he looks like he might be mixed with something other than white.

[@Sean-jc6cu]

He was definitely white

[@Sean-jc6cu]

He looks like Irish singer Luke Kelly

[@johnliberty3647]

@@Sean-jc6cu Yeah, I was gonna say that many Irish have that type of hair when younger, I had a red fro myself, but the hair flattens out with age.

[@jimhayes7594]

His dad was adopted so that was back in the 1920s so who really knows I grew up with him from birth until high school graduation he always calls me squeak

[@iansnyder274]

Namath said they used to call him "chocolate chip" for the very reasons you mentioned...fro and big butt! True story!

[@maristoldboys5466]

First. Jets worst to first this year. Riggo runs again.

[@goblinzl1]

riggins isnt remembered as a jet for most jets fans. i was depressed when he left lol. his numbers overall arent impressive but if you saw him play hes an easy hofer. he wasnt a feature back for a few seasons for some reason with the redskins and he retired temporarily.. players like mike thomas and terry metcalf were used more and they werent anywhere near as durable. once joe gibbs arrived he was given more carries. i honestly believe he wouldve been the nfls leading rusher when he retired if he was given the ball more. he admitted with the jets he didnt play his hardest at times due to being under paid. he was also the jets first 1000 yd rb on a horrible team.

[@annaspyropoulos6138]

Wow,riggins always ran over the dolphins,

[@goblinzl1]

@@annaspyropoulos6138 the diesel ran over everyone. right to the hof.

[@DubyaDaLastRepugPrez]

@@goblinzl1 Riggins' career rushing total isn't as impressive nowadays, but when he retired I believe he was in the top 5 all-time. That's impressive considering that George Allen did not use Riggins as much as he should have when Riggins first joined the Redskins. Plus, Riggins sat-out the entire 1980 season in a contract dispute.

[@gerrob6222]

Part eggplant.

[@davenichols5156]

I wonder if he fumbled alot he did carry that ball loosely

[@omni-man4624]

Nah, I can't even think of 1 time.

[@NoBullsh_t]

Ridiculous...