Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Wanted to put the spotlight on a talented but overlooked back of the 1980's ... Gerald Riggs

Despite being the best player on some bad Atlanta Falcon teams, Riggs rushed for nearly 8200 yards and actually had more career rushing TDs than Roger Craig, without Craig's total yardage of course. Despite Dickerson being with the Rams, Riggs actually led the NFC in rushing in 1985, finishing second overall in rushing to Marcus Allen, with 1719 yards.

I believe Riggs would have easily topped over 9200 career yards had he not been a backup for two seasons to William Andrews and later on with Washington, sharing the backfield in a committee approach with other backs like Ricky Ervins, Earnest Byner and Timmy Smith.

A big, quick back, he helped the Redskins win the SB in 1991 scoring six TDs in the postseason, including two in a SB blowout of the Bills. Counting postseason, he scored a very respectable 75 total TDs in his career and should be considered for the HOVG ...

I remember Riggs breaking out from nowhere and having a huge first game in 1984. No one really knew who he was, people were still processing the William Andrews injury, and Riggs had like 200 yards in his first start. He had an astronomical number of carries in 1985 and was never really the same after that. But he was really tough in 1984 & 85.

It seems when Riggs got 20 or more carries with the Redskins, like the game he had against Philly in 1989 where he gained 220 yards, he was more effective but there were many games where he had 10 or fewer carries. His last year in 1991, he was mostly short yardage and goalline but counting the postseason, he scored 17 TDs.

Brian wolf wrote:It seems when Riggs got 20 or more carries with the Redskins, like the game he had against Philly in 1989 where he gained 220 yards, he was more effective but there were many games where he had 10 or fewer carries. His last year in 1991, he was mostly short yardage and goalline but counting the postseason, he scored 17 TDs.

Why Riggs retired after winning the Super Bowl? I believe he could have stay with the Redskins as a short yardage specialist. Looking at his rushing TDs total, including postseason (he never had a receiving touchdown), 71 of his 75 TDs were from less than 10 yards, and 59 of them were from 3 yards or less.

Bryan wrote:I remember Riggs breaking out from nowhere and having a huge first game in 1984. No one really knew who he was, people were still processing the William Andrews injury, and Riggs had like 200 yards in his first start. He had an astronomical number of carries in 1985 and was never really the same after that. But he was really tough in 1984 & 85.

I remember that Riggs was a top-10 draft pick in 1982 (why the Falcons selected him having William Andrews and Lynn Cain?), but did work out for them. I think both RIggs and Andrews should be selected to the HOVG.

I could see Riggs making HOVG.

He had a decent offensive line with the Falcons - Jeff Van Note (for one season), Mike Kenn (LT), and Bill Fralic (G). Kenn and Fralic were monsters.

I second riggs for the hovg