Fansided

30 best nicknames in NFL history

By Jarrett Bailey

PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 28: Jerome Bettis #36 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs against the Washington Redskins on November 28, 2004 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Redskins 16-7.(Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 28: Jerome Bettis #36 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs against the Washington Redskins on November 28, 2004 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Redskins 16-7.(Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 24: Running back John Riggins #44 of the Washington Redskins runs with the football against the Pittsburgh Steelers after taking a hand off from quarterback Jay Schroeder as offensive lineman Mark May #73 and tight end Don Warren #85 block during a game at Three Rivers Stadium on November 24, 1985 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Redskins defeated the Steelers 30-23. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 24: Running back John Riggins #44 of the Washington Redskins runs with the football against the Pittsburgh Steelers after taking a hand off from quarterback Jay Schroeder as offensive lineman Mark May #73 and tight end Don Warren #85 block during a game at Three Rivers Stadium on November 24, 1985 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Redskins defeated the Steelers 30-23. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

23. “The Diesel” John Riggins

Washington, quite literally, rode John Riggins to the Super Bowl in 1982. While their kicker, Mark Moseley, was the league MVP that season, Washington turned to The Diesel when they needed a big run or a big play in general throughout the strike-shortened season.

Throughout the playoffs, Riggins was the workhorse for Washington, and he made play after play to get them to the biggest stage. In the Super Bowl that season against the Miami Dolphins, Riggins took a fourth down carry to the end zone in one of the most iconic runs in Super Bowl history. He ran through Dolphins’ cornerback Don McNeal and ran 43 yards to the end zone and put Washington on top.

While Riggins best season in Washington came in 1983, where he ran for over 1,300 yards and 24 touchdowns. Washington lost the Super Bowl to the Los Angeles Raiders that season. He led the NFL in touchdowns once again with 14 in 1984, and he will always be remembered as one of the best running backs of the early 1980s. He is a member of the 1980s All-Decade Team and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

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