Age: 34
12th season in pro football, 7th with Redskins
College: Kansas
Height: 6’2” Weight: 235
Prelude:
Following a college career in which Riggins set a school rushing record, he was chosen in the first round of the 1971 NFL draft by the New York Jets. As a rookie, he led the team in rushing (769 yards) and pass receiving (36). In five seasons with the Jets, the power runner who occasionally missed time due to injuries and contract holdouts gained 3880 yards and became the franchise’s first thousand-yard rusher with 1005 in 1975, his only Pro Bowl season. A punishing runner between the tackles, he also showed a decidedly eccentric and anti-establishment streak, and after playing out his option signed with the Redskins in 1976. He had back-to-back thousand-yard seasons in 1978 and ’79, sat out all of 1980 in a contract dispute, and returned to run for 714 yards and 13 TDs in ’81. In the strike-shortened 1982 season, he gained more yards in the four postseason games (610) than in the eight regular season games he appeared in (553) and was MVP of Washington’s Super Bowl win over the Dolphins.
1983 Season Summary
Appeared and started in 15 of 16 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Rushing
Attempts – 375 [2]
Most attempts, game - 30 (for 83 yds.) at Seattle 9/25, (for 122 yds.) vs. NY Giants 12/17
Yards – 1347 [5]
Most yards, game – 122 yards (on 30 carries) vs. NY Giants 12/17
Average gain – 3.6
TDs – 24 [1]
100-yard rushing games - 3
Pass Receiving
Receptions – 5
Most receptions, game – 2 (for 2 yds.) at Philadelphia 9/11, (for 18 yds.) vs. Kansas City 9/18
Yards – 29
Most yards, game - 18 (on 2 catches) vs. Kansas City 9/18
Average gain – 5.8
TDs – 0
Passing
Attempts – 1
Completions – 0
Yards – 0
TD passes – 0
Interceptions – 0
Scoring
TDs – 24 [1]
Points – 144 [2]
The 24 touchdowns set a then-NFL single-season record.
Postseason: 3 G
Rushing attempts – 87
Most rushing attempts, game - 36 vs. San Francisco, NFC Championship
Rushing yards – 306
Most rushing yards, game - 123 vs. San Francisco, NFC Championship
Average gain rushing – 3.5
Rushing TDs – 6
100-yard rushing games - 2
Pass receptions – 1
Most pass receptions, game - 1 vs. LA Raiders, Super Bowl
Pass receiving yards - 1
Most pass receiving yards, game - 1 vs. LA Raiders, Super Bowl
Average yards per reception – 1.0
Pass Receiving TDs – 0
Passing
Pass attempts – 1
Pass completions – 1
Passing yards – 36
TD passes – 0
Interceptions – 0
Awards & Honors:
NFL Player of the Year: Bert Bell Award
1st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Pro Football Weekly
2nd team All-NFL: NEA
1st team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly
Redskins went 14-2 to win the NFC East with the league’s best record while leading the NFL in scoring (541 points) and touchdowns (63). Won NFC Divisional playoff over Los Angeles Rams (51-7) and NFC Championship over San Francisco 49ers (24-21). Lost Super Bowl to Los Angeles Raiders (38-9).
Aftermath:
Riggins again gained over a thousand yards (1239) and led the NFL in rushing touchdowns (14) in 1984, but by 1985, his final season at age 36, he was splitting time with George Rogers. Overall, Riggins ran for 11,352 yards, which ranked fourth all-time at his retirement, and 116 touchdowns (104 rushing, 12 as a pass receiver), which ranked second. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1992.
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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself).
[Updated 2/14/14]