Washington Redskins all-time Mount Rushmore

Washington Redskins Mount Rushmore: RB John Riggins

He was never necessarily the best player at his position in the league. In fact, he was originally the sixth overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft by the New York Jets and earned Pro Bowl honors with that franchise in 1975. But Pro Football Hall of Fame running back John Riggins spent his final nine seasons in the league with the Washington Redskins and became a legend for that club. And in 1982, he embarked on one of the greatest four-game postseason runs (literally) in NFL history.

After five seasons with the Green and White, Riggins signed with the Washington Redskins in 1976. There wasn’t a lot of production during his first two seasons with the club. But that all changed in 1978 when he became the focal point of the running game.

His biggest year actually came in 1983 when he carried 375 times for 1,347 yards and 24 touchdowns. But it was during the strike-shortened 1982 season and in particular the playoffs that year when the “Diesel” made his mark. He went on a four-game tear against the Lions (119), Vikings (185), Cowboys (140) and eventually the Dolphins (166) in Super Bowl XVII, running for a combined 610 yards and four scores on the way to game MVP honors.