There just are NOT guys, black, white or otherwise, coming out like this anymore. This is the product of heart, will, tremendous athletic talent and something else that you can't coach, blended together. Riggins broke almost all of Gayle Sayers records at Kansas, was EXTREMELY fast for a guy 6'2" and 230 pounds, outrunning DB's routinely, NEVER put on his back, punishing runs, notice the people that want to tackle him from the side? They knew if he got away he was GONE! You wont bring him down from behind. I came around to appreciate this guy just lately. I never used to like him because I'm NOT a redskins fan but I simply can't look past such an amazing talent.
Riggins definitely was a beast back in the day. Back then on 1st and goal the Skins could basically tell you he was coming and you still couldn’t stop it.
That’s exactly what Russ Grimm did to Randy White in the championship playoff game. No matter what play Gibbs sent in, he insisted they change it to 70 chip, just so he could tell the great Randy White it was coming straight at him and there wasn’t a damned thing he could do about it. (That reminds me of that scene from Billy Jack?). Even before the game, Grimm wanted to pound on White all day until he dropped and that’s what he did. That is so badass when you think about it. Randy White was the best middle linebacker in the league, an obvious Hall Of Famer, even at that stage of his career. He was thought unstoppable, but Grimm showed he wasn’t Superman after all, as he pounded his ass into submission that day. White was unable to stop Riggins as he converted one 1st down after the next running behind Grimm. That’s why Grimm is in the Hall Of Fame. The only crime is that Bostic and Jacoby are not! Especially Joe Jacoby. Jacoby was called interstate 66 by Joe Bugle because he was the one who Riggins mostly followed through massive holes that Jacoby cleared on the “counter gap” run play year after year. Jacoby is the only reason Timmy Smith holds the super bowl rushing record to this day, not Smith, who was an average runner. You and I could have rushed through those massive holes Joe opened as he leveled Hunley, Ryan, Fletcher or even the great Mecklenburg or any Safety stupid enough to stand in his way.
People forget that Riggins was also fast. You notice on a few runs he was outrunning defensive backs, he could get around the end and he his first step was explosive getting him to the line before the line backers had a chance to fill the gap
Great video! Saw him in person last night storytelling about his days with the Redskins along with Joe Jacoby and Dexter Manley. He was an incredible player - fast, powerful and feisty, with a lot of heart and spirit. And incredibly good looking.
You'll notice how tackling was different back then, more accurate, proper (if you will). None of this helmet-to-helmet stuff that we see so much of in today's game. Riggo was a beast, and I don't recall health being an issue for him post retirement.
Riggins was GREAT, but I don't think he necessarily had more power than Earl Campbell, Emmitt Smith, Larry Csonka, or perhaps Tom Rathman. Also Riggins was easily tackled if a defense plugged his hole and got him going sideways. Moving forward Riggins was a BEAST.
Thanks to bisquik who put great care into including his greatest runs as a Jet + Redskin. What an amazing football player - 230 pounder who was the 100 meter champ as a Jayhawk.
In my humble opinion, Riggins could have been the GOAT. Few people realize John was a high school track star. He won state (KS) 100yd dash his jr and sr year at 9.9 and 9.8. He was 6'2" 220 at the time. His HS stats look like misprints: 14 yds per carry avg, 60 yd punt return AVG, 48 yd kickoff return AVG. In his final game his coach showcased him for scouts and he rushed for over 400 yds and scored 37 points. Yes. Four hundred. Then he ran all over 'em at KU, played on terrible teams his jr and sr yr, but managed to break Gale Sayers' single season rushing record. Then rather than enter the NFL as a "franchise" player and get the development he needed in those crucial years, he went to the Jets and played behind a falling star named Joe Namath who called his own plays. His 2nd yr he still managed almost 1000yds only playing NINE games. He was always second fiddle to Broadway Joe, and then went to Washington where it was even WORSE for him, because they made him a blocking back. How smart are NFL coaches, really?? You've got a running back with the size and speed of Jim Brown, yet you relegate him to 12 carries a game and make a blocking fullback out of him??? When Joe Gibbs FINALLY cut The Diesel loose, a full THREE years older than Jim Brown was when he retired....well, the numbers and the performances speak for themselves. Just imagine if Riggins would have had a team built around him like other great backs did, during his 20s? The guy ran all over the best in the business at age 33, carried the ball over 30 times a game at 33, set playoff and super bowl records at 33. It's not a stretch to think Riggo just might have been the best RB of all time if his career had gone differently.
That's the only thing I miss about leaving the Big 12, the rivalry with KU. I went to KC for the MU-KU football game in 2007, and it was the GREATEST football game I ever personally witnessed. I always heard about the KU-KSU banter in the past.
Riggins ...9.8 100 yards as a high school sinr...at 220 lbs .....so one can imagine how fast riggins was comin outa college ......phenomenal athlete ...
Once Riggins got into the secondary, it usually took 4 guys to get him down after he'd dragged them about 10 yards. An absolute beast going north-south.
andan04 You never would have heard Coach Gibb's talk trash about any of his players ever, the way Pete Carroll has. Carroll wanted Russell Wilson to get the WIN, not Marshawn..
He is the only white guy to me in the modern day that can play power back in any era! I have never seen someone like him with that kind of speed and power and I doubt that there will ever be again.
Great running back. 4th and 1. His signature run in Super Bowl XVII. Revenge match of SBVII. Undefeated Miami 1972. Not in 1982 against a team like the Joe Gibbs coached Redskins.
Mr. John Riggins, I'm a Steeler's fan, but I played & pay due respect, big for a power back = no, a power back= yes, bold = yes, brash = yes, brilliant = yes, bolting speed = yes, ( what we call runs easy, very deceptive speed), blocker = yes, hall of famer ?, no doubt in my mind, = YES ABSOLUTELY !!!!
Reason why there are no video clips of Riggins at KU, people cared even less about KU football back in the 60s than they do now if you can believe that.
Wow at 3:19 it took 4 guys to bring him down! At one point he had the record for most rushing touchdowns in a single season with 24 in 1983, until Emmitt Smith broke it with 25 in 1995.
@hitachicm721f I wish I could take credit for this, but I ripped it, and put better music to it. Seems like a lot of Redskin fans like to overlook his days in the backfield with Broadway Joe, but how can one? I wish there was footage of the Jayhawk days. Thanks my friend.
@PeteyP3t3 For a "basketball school" we have the best football program of all. Not great by any means, and terribly inconsistant. Three NFL HOFer's is hard to do. NC, and Duke sure as hell don't have 3. My profile background is Riggo scoring on Nebraska the last time we beat NU in Lincoln. 1968, LOL!
@bisquik3006 I thought Mangino might bring Kansas back to the limelight but I guess not all of Stoops proteges can do as well as him. KU vs Okie State tomorrow. "Pistols holstered, Cowboys crying" Pete
If he'd had an offense built around him in his five years he would be one of the top 5 backs of all time. Two coaches absolutely wasted his talent and prime years.
Cute, but doesn't quite beat McCromack, Riggins, and Sayers. Not to mention Cromwell is on the ballot this year. You never did answer my question about Orange Bowls. Or any BCS Bowl for that matter.
There just are NOT guys, black, white or otherwise, coming out like this anymore. This is the product of heart, will, tremendous athletic talent and something else that you can't coach, blended together. Riggins broke almost all of Gayle Sayers records at Kansas, was EXTREMELY fast for a guy 6'2" and 230 pounds, outrunning DB's routinely, NEVER put on his back, punishing runs, notice the people that want to tackle him from the side? They knew if he got away he was GONE! You wont bring him down from behind. I came around to appreciate this guy just lately. I never used to like him because I'm NOT a redskins fan but I simply can't look past such an amazing talent.
As a lifetime Skins fan I LOVE seeing these clips of "The Diesel"! Riggins was a certified badass power runner!
Perfect song selection my Brother!
Riggins definitely was a beast back in the day. Back then on 1st and goal the Skins could basically tell you he was coming and you still couldn’t stop it.
That’s exactly what Russ Grimm did to Randy White in the championship playoff game. No matter what play Gibbs sent in, he insisted they change it to 70 chip, just so he could tell the great Randy White it was coming straight at him and there wasn’t a damned thing he could do about it. (That reminds me of that scene from Billy Jack?).
Even before the game, Grimm wanted to pound on White all day until he dropped and that’s what he did. That is so badass when you think about it. Randy White was the best middle linebacker in the league, an obvious Hall Of Famer, even at that stage of his career. He was thought unstoppable, but Grimm showed he wasn’t Superman after all, as he pounded his ass into submission that day.
White was unable to stop Riggins as he converted one 1st down after the next running behind Grimm. That’s why Grimm is in the Hall Of Fame. The only crime is that Bostic and Jacoby are not! Especially Joe Jacoby.
Jacoby was called interstate 66 by Joe Bugle because he was the one who Riggins mostly followed through massive holes that Jacoby cleared on the “counter gap” run play year after year.
Jacoby is the only reason Timmy Smith holds the super bowl rushing record to this day, not Smith, who was an average runner. You and I could have rushed through those massive holes Joe opened as he leveled Hunley, Ryan, Fletcher or even the great Mecklenburg or any Safety stupid enough to stand in his way.
Nor on the other side of the ball, could you stop it.
People forget that Riggins was also fast. You notice on a few runs he was outrunning defensive backs, he could get around the end and he his first step was explosive getting him to the line before the line backers had a chance to fill the gap
Also in high school he won the state championship twice, in his division for the 100 yard dash. So he definitely had good speed.
My God! I don't think I've ever seen a DB as destroyed as that Detroit Lion dude that Riggins blocked! Knocked his fucking helmet off!
This was when real men played football. It was a honor to live in d.c. ans grow up watching riggins run behind the hogs. 44 forever!
The greatest ever!
one of the truly great powerbacks, had outside speed plus the power to go through the middle, a rare combination.
Rev up that diesel, waaaammmp, waaaaaammmp, waaammmmppp! Let's go diesel.
John Riggins is the best and most entertaining running back of all time's
1:21 simply awesome run. I love how he sends the defender flying about 1:40
The Baddest Cat Alive
Great video! Saw him in person last night storytelling about his days with the Redskins along with Joe Jacoby and Dexter Manley. He was an incredible player - fast, powerful and feisty, with a lot of heart and spirit. And incredibly good looking.
Good stuff, good name for him too, Like a diesel runnin away!
His speed was so underrated.
beautiful video, so poetic
Man I used to love football! When men could do the game. Only real ball is in archives like this.
My favorite player, And last of the great white running backs.
Don’t forget Mike Alstott.
THE GREATEST diesel Redskin one back RIGGINS averaged 30 runs per game as a running back at age 33 won the superbowl with the hogs MOHAWK INCLUDED
Best video ever
The greatest power back of all time.
You'll notice how tackling was different back then, more accurate, proper (if you will).
None of this helmet-to-helmet stuff that we see so much of in today's game.
Riggo was a beast, and I don't recall health being an issue for him post retirement.
Riggins was GREAT, but I don't think he necessarily had more power than Earl Campbell, Emmitt Smith, Larry Csonka, or perhaps Tom Rathman. Also Riggins was easily tackled if a defense plugged his hole and got him going sideways. Moving forward Riggins was a BEAST.
Jonathan Blaze ever heard of earl Campbell
Of course. Riggins was greater, longer, Super Bowl winner and Super Bowl MVP.
Earl Campbell was better. He just didn't have The Hogs blocking for him.
Beast of a running back. He also had an impressive Afro
Thanks to bisquik who put great care into including his greatest runs as a Jet + Redskin. What an amazing football player - 230 pounder who was the 100 meter champ as a Jayhawk.
He and The Tyler Rose, Earl Campbell, are the two biggest, baddest RBs to ever play the game.
I bet Redskins fans weep joyfully watching highlights of John Riggins.SB 17 MVP.
He carries the ball like a loaf of bread. John Riggins invented and perfected offensive tackling.
that block he put on James Hunter (RIP) was absolutely vicious.
Awe inspiring
LOVE THIS
Yur
In my humble opinion, Riggins could have been the GOAT. Few people realize John was a high school track star. He won state (KS) 100yd dash his jr and sr year at 9.9 and 9.8. He was 6'2" 220 at the time. His HS stats look like misprints: 14 yds per carry avg, 60 yd punt return AVG, 48 yd kickoff return AVG. In his final game his coach showcased him for scouts and he rushed for over 400 yds and scored 37 points. Yes. Four hundred. Then he ran all over 'em at KU, played on terrible teams his jr and sr yr, but managed to break Gale Sayers' single season rushing record. Then rather than enter the NFL as a "franchise" player and get the development he needed in those crucial years, he went to the Jets and played behind a falling star named Joe Namath who called his own plays. His 2nd yr he still managed almost 1000yds only playing NINE games. He was always second fiddle to Broadway Joe, and then went to Washington where it was even WORSE for him, because they made him a blocking back. How smart are NFL coaches, really?? You've got a running back with the size and speed of Jim Brown, yet you relegate him to 12 carries a game and make a blocking fullback out of him??? When Joe Gibbs FINALLY cut The Diesel loose, a full THREE years older than Jim Brown was when he retired....well, the numbers and the performances speak for themselves. Just imagine if Riggins would have had a team built around him like other great backs did, during his 20s? The guy ran all over the best in the business at age 33, carried the ball over 30 times a game at 33, set playoff and super bowl records at 33. It's not a stretch to think Riggo just might have been the best RB of all time if his career had gone differently.
GOAT.
That's the only thing I miss about leaving the Big 12, the rivalry with KU. I went to KC for the MU-KU football game in 2007, and it was the GREATEST football game I ever personally witnessed. I always heard about the KU-KSU banter in the past.
FAVORITE HIGHLIGHT REEL
Yes. Thanks. Was scrounging for Riggo hilites as a Jet.
He's an american original, Riggo.
Riggins ...9.8 100 yards as a high school sinr...at 220 lbs .....so one can imagine how fast riggins was comin outa college ......phenomenal athlete ...
Didnt realize John Riggins played at KU. Great Player. BOOMER SOONER!!
Pete
Once Riggins got into the secondary, it usually took 4 guys to get him down after he'd dragged them about 10 yards. An absolute beast going north-south.
Greatest Redskin player of all-time
The Marshawn Lynch of the 80's
Riggins was much better and stronger than Marshawn Lynch,but they did have similar running styles.
Except that when the game was on the line, his coach gave Riggins the ball.
Benzette Films definitely better than lunch
andan04 You never would have heard Coach Gibb's talk trash about any of his players ever, the way Pete Carroll has. Carroll wanted Russell Wilson to get the WIN, not Marshawn..
Dis dude is the 🔥 fo real. When did dis dude play?
Whoever did this shit, you are awesome ! And riggo!
This is when football was good.
He is the only white guy to me in the modern day that can play power back in any era! I have never seen someone like him with that kind of speed and power and I doubt that there will ever be again.
Smash mouth running,thats what riggo gave you .
Riggo !
It’s like tackling a Moose
GAS, GAS!!!
Great running back. 4th and 1. His signature run in Super Bowl XVII. Revenge match of SBVII. Undefeated Miami 1972. Not in 1982 against a team like the Joe Gibbs coached Redskins.
Mr. John Riggins, I'm a Steeler's fan, but I played & pay due respect, big for a power back = no, a power back= yes, bold = yes, brash = yes, brilliant = yes, bolting speed = yes, ( what we call runs easy, very deceptive speed), blocker = yes, hall of famer ?, no doubt in my mind, = YES ABSOLUTELY !!!!
One of the top five RB's of all time. Certainly the best white RB after Nagurski.
***** good point
@@MaximusWolfe Franco Harris RIP! African Italian American!🏈
Ha his mohawk was the shit lol , Riggins actually did shrooms before an NFL game once
No kidding?
LETS GO ITS BACK!!!
Holy shit at 1:41!
and at 1:49 !!
When football was pure and not all about money, sex and cars.
Riggo owes a great deal of his success to the blocking of the hogs.
true but you saw the clips of the jets and KU and he was always a beast.
You're only saying that because he's white. Lets see you keep that same energy with Emmitt Smith and the 'girls offensive line of the 90s.
Reason why there are no video clips of Riggins at KU, people cared even less about KU football back in the 60s than they do now if you can believe that.
Defenders were foolish to try and solo tackle Riggo.
He was a Beast. Maybe not the jukes and spins that Adrian Peterson has, but very similar. Punishing runners.
Badass dude and funny that never cared about others said, THE DIESEL
If the first 2/3's of Riggos career wasn't wasted on bad teams with bad coaches he would have been the all time leading rusher in NFL history.
Earl Campbell and John Riggins 2 backs that had speed and when they hit you it was like being hit by trucks
The block at 1:44 , damn near killed the guy ! you wont ever see a better knock out block , and he was a better runner then blocker . ALL TIME GREAT .
Riggo-Csonka-Lynch
Wow at 3:19 it took 4 guys to bring him down! At one point he had the record for most rushing touchdowns in a single season with 24 in 1983, until Emmitt Smith broke it with 25 in 1995.
this is fuck'in great :)
You can say that again. Joe T, Dave butkus and Mark mosley showed up to NFC championship in a stationwagon. Lol
There are actually two MU players in the NFL HoF, Winslow and Wehrli.
KU all time football record is 573-580-58, and it's going to get a lot worse.
George Allen used him as a blocking Fullback what a mistake. Gibbs saw the light and gave him the Ball.
@THEBUBBAEFFECT Don't forget Ike, Barry Sanders, Gayle Sayers, Walter Johnson, and the Westboro Baptist Church, lol.
2 cowboy fans
jesus...after watching this this dude was one sob trying take down. this dude is a legend.I like earl camble now I like this dude better
Tru Dat....
It had to be the froe baby
Just because trolls on forums say so does not actually make it so.
@hitachicm721f I wish I could take credit for this, but I ripped it, and put better music to it. Seems like a lot of Redskin fans like to overlook his days in the backfield with Broadway Joe, but how can one? I wish there was footage of the Jayhawk days. Thanks my friend.
I FOUND IT
Uh, ever heard of Sandra Day O'Connor?
@adamS0979 I totally ripped this vid. But, the guy I ripped it from ripped it from the NFL, so I don't feel bad.
I've often wondered what KU would have done against OU that year. OU obviously had a better team, but who knows.
@lonestar54r If Riggo was from Texas, you would have a tattoo of him with a mohawk as a tramp stamp.
don mcneal and the dude john riggins laid out at 1:48 were the two dislikes
You are probably right. Yet, it's still 3-1 KU vs MU in NFL hall of famers. Go figure.
@Jailawhale Just keep your sights off my dimes.
Kind of like MU has a good seaon once ever 40 or 50 years. BFD.
@PeteyP3t3 For a "basketball school" we have the best football program of all. Not great by any means, and terribly inconsistant. Three NFL HOFer's is hard to do. NC, and Duke sure as hell don't have 3. My profile background is Riggo scoring on Nebraska the last time we beat NU in Lincoln. 1968, LOL!
The baddest white RB ever ?
Csonka and Alstott ?
Riggins was better than Csonka, and Alstott was never a RB.
@bisquik3006 I thought Mangino might bring Kansas back to the limelight but I guess not all of Stoops proteges can do as well as him. KU vs Okie State tomorrow. "Pistols holstered, Cowboys crying"
Pete
Only the NY Jets could be dumb enough to trade Riggins.
I loved the close up of him lining up on 4th & 1 against Miami in the the Superbowl. It's like he knew that was his last hoorah. He delivered.
@THEBUBBAEFFECT Maybe one day. 50lbs of C4 in my coin purse.
@snewso I hope for your sake you are an LSU fan. I wouldn't wish Mizzou on anybody.
Trolls = ESPN. LOL.
If he'd had an offense built around him in his five years he would be one of the top 5 backs of all time. Two coaches absolutely wasted his talent and prime years.
Todays redskins need to watch all of riggos games lol,they will see what they need to do to be a SuperBowl MVP!
I was a fan of Riggins growing up, but I still despise KU.
Probably Dallas fans.
It's weird there are so many Jets highlights.
Why is that weird?
There was nobody any better than Riggins and the great Joe Gibbs playing smash mouth football.
Cute, but doesn't quite beat McCromack, Riggins, and Sayers. Not to mention Cromwell is on the ballot this year. You never did answer my question about Orange Bowls. Or any BCS Bowl for that matter.
Perhaps due to their superiority of the Mizzou fucktards.