In what many would argue is long overdue, the Washington football franchise is retiring the jersey of one of its all-time greats ahead of kickoff on Sunday. John Riggins, "The Diesel," is firmly established on the Mount Rushmore of Washington football history.

Brash, unapologetic, and completely original, the self-proclaimed "Mountain Man" left a mark on this organization that decades haven't erased. Starting Sunday, no Washington player will ever wear No. 44 again.

Riggins logged 175 games over 14 NFL seasons, but the groundwork was laid at the University of Kansas. He took the Big Eight rushing title and broke Gale Sayers’ school record before the New York Jets snatched him sixth overall in the 1971 draft.

After five years in New York — capped by a 1,000-yard season in 1975—Riggins wanted out from Broadway Joe Namath’s shadow. He signed with Washington as a free agent in 1976, kicking off nine unforgettable seasons in the Burgundy and Gold.

Equipped with punishing power and sneaky breakaway speed, Riggins initially lined up under head coach George Allen at fullback. Allen’s run-heavy, defensive-minded system used Riggins mostly to clear lanes as a lead blocker. Riggo famously hated this role given to him, and let Coach Allen know it. Famously saying, “Why don’t you give me a 60-number if you’re only going to hand me the ball once or twice a game?”

Everything changed in 1978 when Jack Pardee took over and put Riggins where he belonged: as the feature back. Riggins responded with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in '78 and '79, putting up 14 touchdowns.

Then came the brutal 1979 season finale against Dallas for the divsion title. Riggins gutted out 151 yards and two scores, only for Roger Staubach to pull off a late fourth-quarter comeback to win 35-34, knocking Washington out of the postseason. Frustrated by the collapse and exhausted by the grind, the 30-year-old Riggins walked away, sitting out the entire 1980 season at his home in Kansas.

In 1981, new head coach Joe Gibbs flew out to Kansas on a mission to bring Riggo back. Sitting down with his new head coach, Riggins delivered one of the best lines in franchise history: “You need to bring me back there. I’ll make you famous.”

He backed up every word.

Gibbs built his offense around Riggins’ heavy-duty running. During the strike-shortened 1982 season, Washington was rolling at 8-1. Right before the playoff push, Riggins walked up to Gibbs with a clear message: "load up the wagon." Meaning, he wanted the entire postseason on his shoulders.

Gibbs handed him the rock, and Riggins responded with one of the most dominant playoff stretches in NFL history. He opened the postseason by gashing Detroit for 119 yards on 25 carries. The following week against Minnesota, he turned into a total workhorse, carrying the ball 37 times for 185 yards and two touchdowns. 

Then came the NFC Championship against Dallas. In front of a raucous RFK Stadium crowd chanting "We Want Dallas!", Riggo pounded the Cowboys for 140 yards and two more scores on 36 carries to punch Washington's ticket to the Super Bowl. 

Riggins piled up a record 610 rushing yards across four postseason games. The iconic moment came in Super Bowl XVII against Miami's top-ranked defense.

Trailing in the fourth quarter on 4th-and-1, Gibbs called "70 Chip." Riggins took the handoff, shed Don McNeal at the line of scrimmage, and rumbled 42 yards down the sideline to pull Washington out front for good. Washington won 27-17, and Riggins walked off with Super Bowl MVP honors after a record 166-yard performance.

Riggins finished his Washington career with 7,472 rushing yards and 79 touchdowns, wrapping up a Hall of Fame career with 11,352 yards and 104 total scores.

Beyond the box score, Riggo set the culture. As the self-appointed President of the "5 O’Clock Club," he drank post-practice beers with The Hogs in the equipment shed. That blue-collar grit defined an entire era of Washington football.

Having No. 44 raised to the rafters is also a massive statement for Josh Harris and this ownership group. For years under Dan Snyder, Riggins kept his distance, leaving fans wondering if the icon would ever return. Seeing 44 officially retired bridges the gap to the glory days and gives the Burgundy and Gold faithful a real reason to celebrate.

The official ceremony will take place at halftime during Sunday's matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at Northwest Stadium. Riggins’ No. 44 will join Sammy Baugh (33), Bobby Mitchell (49), Sean Taylor (21), and Sonny Jurgensen (9) as just the fifth officially retired number in franchise history.