John Riggins is a Hall of Fame running back whose career earned a strong career value score of 73 in the Knox value model. Riggins's enshrinement reflects a career that consistently placed him among the elite of his generation.
J
John Riggins
All-Time Rank & Honors
career ranks, postseason ranks, awards, title contextRegular-season all-time ranks
Postseason all-time ranks
1
Title Seasons
8
Dynasty Seasons
Yes
Hall of Fame
Season honors and record seasons
A top 10% all-time running back who consistently made an impact across multiple seasons.
Career Value · VORP
VORP 186 · #437 · EliteWorth 186 points of value above a freely-available replacement running back — top 10% of all 4,642 ranked at the position. 10 of 14 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +18.6 on average.See board →
Seasons above replacement
10 cleared
4 replaced
Beat replacement (adds to VORP) Below it — adds 0, never a debit
50
Replacement
the KC-H bar
→
10
Seasons over
cleared the bar
×
+18.6
Avg surplus
peak +37
10 seasons × ~18.6 surplus ≈ VORP 186
Combined Season Grid
The full season-by-season grids, joined on one timeline. Every selected stat family stays visible at once—no tab hopping.
2 grids split in one view
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Yds | TD | Y/A | TD% | 1D | 1D% | Fmb | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | Ctch% | Y/R | Y/Tgt | AirYd/T | 1D | |||||
| 1971 | — | NYJ | 14 | — | 180 | 769 | 1 | 4.3 | 0.6 | — | — | — | — | 36 | 231 | 2 | — | 6.4 | — | — | — |
| 1972 | — | NYJ | 11 | — | 207 | 944 | 7 | 4.6 | 3.4 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 230 | 1 | — | 11.0 | — | — | — |
| 1973 | — | NYJ | 9 | — | 134 | 482 | 4 | 3.6 | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | 23 | 158 | 0 | — | 6.9 | — | — | — |
| 1974 | — | NYJ | 10 | — | 169 | 680 | 5 | 4.0 | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | 19 | 180 | 2 | — | 9.5 | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | NYJ | 14 | — | 238 | 1,005 | 8 | 4.2 | 3.4 | — | — | — | — | 30 | 363 | 1 | — | 12.1 | — | — | — |
| 1976 | — | WAS | 14 | — | 162 | 572 | 3 | 3.5 | 1.9 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 172 | 1 | — | 8.2 | — | — | — |
| 1977 | — | WAS | 5 | — | 68 | 203 | 0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 95 | 2 | — | 13.6 | — | — | — |
| 1978 | — | WAS | 15 | — | 248 | 1,014 | 5 | 4.1 | 2.0 | — | — | — | — | 31 | 299 | 0 | — | 9.6 | — | — | — |
| 1979 | — | WAS | 15 | — | 260 | 1,153 | 9 | 4.4 | 3.5 | — | — | — | — | 28 | 163 | 3 | — | 5.8 | — | — | — |
| 1981 | — | WAS | 4 | — | 195 | 714 | 13 | 3.7 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 59 | 0 | — | 9.8 | — | — | — |
| 1982 | — | WAS | 8 | — | 177 | 553 | 3 | 3.1 | 1.7 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 50 | 0 | — | 5.0 | — | — | — |
| 1983 | — | WAS | 15 | — | 375 | 1,347 | 24 | 3.6 | 6.4 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 29 | 0 | — | 5.8 | — | — | — |
| 1984 | — | WAS | 14 | — | 327 | 1,239 | 14 | 3.8 | 4.3 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 43 | 0 | — | 6.1 | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | WAS | 11 | — | 176 | 677 | 8 | 3.8 | 4.5 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 18 | 0 | — | 3.0 | — | — | — |
| Career | — | 159 | — | 2,916 | 11,352 | 104 | 3.9 | 3.6 | — | — | — | 0 | 250 | 2,090 | 12 | — | 8.4 | — | — | — | |
Rushing
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Att | Yds | TD | Y/A | TD% | 1D | 1D% | Fmb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 22 | NYJ | 14 | — | 180 | 769 | 1 | 4.3 | 0.6 | — | — | — |
| 1972 | 23 | NYJ | 11 | — | 207 | 944 | 7 | 4.6 | 3.4 | — | — | — |
| 1973 | 24 | NYJ | 9 | — | 134 | 482 | 4 | 3.6 | 3.0 | — | — | — |
| 1974 | 25 | NYJ | 10 | — | 169 | 680 | 5 | 4.0 | 3.0 | — | — | — |
| 1975 | 26 | NYJ | 14 | — | 238 | 1,005 | 8 | 4.2 | 3.4 | — | — | — |
| 1976 | 27 | WAS | 14 | — | 162 | 572 | 3 | 3.5 | 1.9 | — | — | — |
| 1977 | 28 | WAS | 5 | — | 68 | 203 | 0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | — | — | — |
| 1978 | 29 | WAS | 15 | — | 248 | 1,014 | 5 | 4.1 | 2.0 | — | — | — |
| 1979 | 30 | WAS | 15 | — | 260 | 1,153 | 9 | 4.4 | 3.5 | — | — | — |
| 1981 | 32 | WAS | 4 | — | 195 | 714 | 13 | 3.7 | 6.7 | — | — | — |
| 1982 | 33 | WAS | 8 | — | 177 | 553 | 3 | 3.1 | 1.7 | — | — | — |
| 1983 | 34 | WAS | 15 | — | 375 | 1,347 | 24 | 3.6 | 6.4 | — | — | — |
| 1984 | 35 | WAS | 14 | — | 327 | 1,239 | 14 | 3.8 | 4.3 | — | — | — |
| 1985 | 36 | WAS | 11 | — | 176 | 677 | 8 | 3.8 | 4.5 | — | — | — |
| Career | 159 | 2,916 | 11,352 | 104 | 3.9 | — | — | — | — |
Receiving
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | Ctch% | Y/R | Y/Tgt | AirYd/T | 1D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 22 | NYJ | 14 | — | — | 36 | 231 | 2 | — | 6.4 | — | — | — |
| 1972 | 23 | NYJ | 11 | — | — | 21 | 230 | 1 | — | 11.0 | — | — | — |
| 1973 | 24 | NYJ | 9 | — | — | 23 | 158 | 0 | — | 6.9 | — | — | — |
| 1974 | 25 | NYJ | 10 | — | — | 19 | 180 | 2 | — | 9.5 | — | — | — |
| 1975 | 26 | NYJ | 14 | — | — | 30 | 363 | 1 | — | 12.1 | — | — | — |
| 1976 | 27 | WAS | 14 | — | — | 21 | 172 | 1 | — | 8.2 | — | — | — |
| 1977 | 28 | WAS | 5 | — | — | 7 | 95 | 2 | — | 13.6 | — | — | — |
| 1978 | 29 | WAS | 15 | — | — | 31 | 299 | 0 | — | 9.6 | — | — | — |
| 1979 | 30 | WAS | 15 | — | — | 28 | 163 | 3 | — | 5.8 | — | — | — |
| 1981 | 32 | WAS | 4 | — | — | 6 | 59 | 0 | — | 9.8 | — | — | — |
| 1982 | 33 | WAS | 8 | — | — | 10 | 50 | 0 | — | 5.0 | — | — | — |
| 1983 | 34 | WAS | 15 | — | — | 5 | 29 | 0 | — | 5.8 | — | — | — |
| 1984 | 35 | WAS | 14 | — | — | 7 | 43 | 0 | — | 6.1 | — | — | — |
| 1985 | 36 | WAS | 11 | — | — | 6 | 18 | 0 | — | 3.0 | — | — | — |
| Career | 159 | 0 | 250 | 2,090 | 12 | — | 8.4 | — | — | — |
KV-H Anatomy
KV-H 73 · GreatA great career by KV-H: a peak-driven profile that scores 73 of 100, era-normalized against rush yds/g peers across 14 scored seasons.
63
Sustained
career value
×.6
82
Peak
best 3 seasons
×.4
×1
Longevity
career length
Blend 70.6 × longevity 1 = KV-H 73· confidence 94%
What builds the career mark of 63
On-field 46.2
Availability 16.8
On-field production Staying available
Season-by-season quality (era-relative rush yds/g)
1971bestavg 60elite 701985
All-Time Standing
how this career measures against the all-time greats at the position63
Solid
of 100
Reached 63% of the all-time Rushing Touchdowns leader — a solid all-time profile at the position.
63% of the all-time Rushing Touchdowns leader63
2 categories ≥25% of the all-time leader67
A 0–100 scale where 100 = matched the all-time leaderat this position. Built only from visible encyclopedia data — career production vs. the all-time leader, plus efficiency (EPA) and comparable-player confidence — so it's a transparent context score, not a subjective rating. Tiers: Elite ≥ 85 · Strong ≥ 65 · Solid ≥ 45 · Depth < 45. Comparable-player confidence: 95%.
Career Aging Trajectory
vs. position group average · KV-H basisAmber = this player (normalized to own peak). Indigo = average RBs aging curve. Group peak age: 21. Source: StatVault KV-H era (1999+).
Playoff vs Regular Season
📊 Consistent
Yards / Carry: 3.9 regular season → 4.0 playoffs (4 playoff seasons)
+2%
vs reg season
From Scrimmage · Career
Scrimmage Yds
13,442
11,352 rush · 2,090 recv
Total TDs
116
104 rush · 12 recv
Total Touches
3,166
2,916 carries · 250 rec
Yds / Touch
4.2
rushing + receiving
Postseason Career
Rushing
Att251Yds996TD12Y/A4.0TD%4.8
Receiving
Rec6Yds45Y/R7.5
College Rushing
College Receiving
Reference Graph
Career teammates and draft class, derived from year-by-year rosters — every name is linked.
Top Teammates
Similar Players
Statistical + physical similarity across every player in the database, position-relevant (0–100%).
Movementderived from season history
- 1985final season
Last recorded season with WAS
- 1976team change
Joined WAS (from NYJ)
- 1971signing
Entered the NFL with NYJ
Knox
StatVault's proprietary player intelligence, informed by full career data. How Knox works →
Historical Knox · KV-H
Era-normalized career quality — z-scored against 14-season peers. See all →
73
peak 82
Season Report Cards· KV-H era-normalized per season
C+1971
B1972
C1973
C+1974
B1975
C1976
F1977
B1978
B1979
C1981
B+1982
A1983
A1984
B+1985
Era Translator
Rush Yds translated to the 2025NFL — each season's standing among its own-era peers, projected onto 2025's scoring environment. Modern-era (1999+) coverage.
| Season | Actual Rush Yds | Rush Yds/G | → 2025 Rush Yds | → 2025 /G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 769 | 54.9 | 234-535 | 13.8 |
| 1972 | 944 | 85.8 | 1,080+136 | 63.5 |
| 1973 | 482 | 53.6 | 127-355 | 7.5 |
| 1974 | 680 | 68 | 451-229 | 26.6 |
| 1975 | 1,005 | 71.8 | 528-477 | 31.1 |
| 1976 | 572 | 40.9 | 0-572 | 0 |
| 1977 | 203 | 40.6 | 0-203 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1,014 | 67.6 | 710-304 | 41.8 |
| 1979 | 1,153 | 76.9 | 994-159 | 58.5 |
| 1981 | 714 | 178.5 | 2,963+2,249 | 174.3 |
| 1982 | 553 | 69.1 | 1,348+795 | 79.3 |
| 1983 | 1,347 | 89.8 | 1,704+357 | 100.2 |
| 1984 | 1,239 | 88.5 | 1,823+584 | 107.3 |
| 1985 | 677 | 61.5 | 1,316+639 | 77.4 |
Data: wikipedia:season-stats (CC-BY-SA, facts-only), wikipedia:pfhof-inductee-list · multi-source verified via the StatVault Oracle · updated 7/10/2026
Career Value · VORP
186 career value over replacement — #437 all-time of 4,642. 13.3/season above a replacement-level RB.
Fan Rating
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