Pro Football Hall of Fame running John Riggins is one of the most iconic players in Washington’s over 90-year history. “Riggo,” or “Diesel,” whatever your preferred nickname for Riggins, enjoyed a nine-year run in Washington, winning a Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP award.
Over the years, Riggins hadn’t been on the best terms with this former franchise. Any chance he got, Riggins joked about the state of the franchise, particularly former owner Daniel Snyder and the team name.
However, when Josh Harris and his partners purchased the team in July 2023, the tide began to change. The new ownership group made a concerted effort to connect with the team’s past, specifically its legends. It made a difference, with several players returning to the franchise and coming to games.
Riggins was among those retired players who showed up for games at Northwest Stadium.
So, what did Riggins think about his former team’s sudden success in 2024?
“They’ve been in the desert for quite some time, over 20 years,” Riggins told JP Finlay Friday. “This really is just the luck of the draw, cause you never know, there’s been so many guys drafted really high in the first round, and guess what? They’re on the street a year or two later. They got the right guy at quarterback, that made a huge difference.”
Riggins was praising rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels before turning his attention to head coach Dan Quinn.
“I think Dan Quinn deserves a lot of credit,” Riggins said. “Who, if I’m not mistaken, played football down here on the Eastern Shore? I met him, and I liked him because he looked like a guy that’s a straight shooter. They’re hard to find in the NFL.”
John Riggins on Washington being back: “They got the right guy at QB, that made a huge difference, and I think Dan Quinn deserves a lot of credit…He looks like a guy that’s a straight shooter, which is hard to find in the NFL.” Full answer is awesome. pic.twitter.com/5Fz7H0BvGt
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) February 21, 2025
Riggins continued praising the team — he still refuses to call them the Commanders.
“I thought Washington had a great season and the sky’s the limit for these guys right now.”
It’s safe to say Riggo is on board with the current regime.