Actors - John Riggins

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John Riggins (born August 4, 1949, in Seneca, Kansas) is a former American Football running back, and inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Educated at the University of Kansas, he broke Gale Sayers's career rushing record for the school. He was the first-round draft pick for the New York Jets in the 1971 draft. He spent five years with the Jets as he became the New York Jets MVP in 1972 and 1975. In that 1975 season, he made the pro bowl and was the first Jet to rush for 1,000 yards in a season (1,005). He was eventually being signed as a free agent by the Washington Redskins in 1976. He remained with Washington until retiring in 1985, but voluntarily sat out the 1980 season over a contractual dispute.

He played in Super Bowl XVII and Super Bowl XVIII for the Redskins, in tandem with quarterback Joe Theismann and Washington's legendary offensive line known collectively as "The Hogs." He had 38 carries for 166 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl XVII, becoming the game MVP. Riggins overall performace in the postseason that year was outstanding: 610 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns in 4 games. His 610 rushing yards and his 4 consecutive games with over 100 yards were both NFL posteason records.

In the following season, Riggins rushed for 1,347 yards and scored an NFL record 24 touchdowns, a record that would stand for 12 years. He went on to have another outstanding postseason, rushing for 242 yards and 5 touchdowns in their 2 playoff games, extending his NFL record of postseason games with at least 100 rushing yards to 6. He then rushed for 61 yards and a touchdown in the Redskins 38-9 Super Bowl XVIII loss against the Oakland Raiders

Riggins was known for his hard running style and tough demeanor. He has a career 11,352 yards rushing and 2,090 yards receiving, giving him 13,435 combined yards, among the best ever for a running back. He also scored 104 rushing TDs (116 total) during his career. He was the second player ever to rush for over 100 touchdowns in NFL history, and the first to do it since Jim Brown reatched the milestone in 1965.

Riggins's nightlife drew as much attention as his on-field exploits. In 1985, at a Washington Press Club dinner, an intoxicated Riggins infamously told Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor: "Come on, Sandy Baby, loosen up. You're too tight," then passed out on the floor.

John Riggins was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

Since retiring from professional football, Riggins has worked as a sports commentator on television and radio, and is a popular, near-notorious, figure in the Washington D.C. area. In 1994, he began acting lessons and has since starred in off-off-Broadway productions of the plays Gillette and A Midsummer Night's Dream
(in which he played Bottom). His television credits include Guiding Light and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Interestingly, Sandra Day O'Connor came to one of Riggins' first Broadway plays and asked Riggins to autograph a football for her.

Riggins had a brief stint in New York as a guest host on WNEW-FM radio's Sports Guys.

In July 2005, Westwood One announced that Riggins would serve as color commentator for the network's weekly national radio broadcast of Sunday Night Football starting in the 2006 season (although Riggins began his role as color commentator in 2005). Riggins' former teammate Joe Theismann will perform the same role on ESPN's weekly Monday night television broadcasts.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for John Riggins ]

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Actors - John Riggins

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