Washington Commanders retire Hall of Famer John Riggins' No. 44
The gist
The Washington Commanders retired Hall of Fame running back John Riggins' No. 44 at halftime on Nov. 8.
No Washington player will wear No. 44 again, honoring the franchise's all-time leading rusher.
How it unfolded
- Jul 9, 2026The Washington Commanders announced they will retire John Riggins' No. 44 during the upcoming season, with a halftime ceremony against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 8.
- Nov 7, 2026Head coach Quinn opened his Friday news conference talking about what the honor will mean for Riggins and his family; Mark Schlereth recalled how beloved Riggins was.
- Nov 8, 2026Washington retired Riggins' jersey ahead of kickoff; starting that day, no Washington player will ever wear No. 44 again.
Key terms
- free agent
- A professional athlete who is not under contract with any team and is free to sign with another.
- Super Bowl XVII MVP
- An annual award for the most valuable player of the NFL's championship game, the Super Bowl.
- franchise
- A member team of a professional sports league under the North American closed-membership model.
Source: Wikipedia