No. 44
Kansas
"A small town boy from Centralia, Kansas (pop. 600) made it big in New York. As a rookie last season, he gained 769 yards on 180 carries, and his total was sixth best in the AFC. He had a nifty 4.3-yard average which was pretty good considering that his longest run was only 25 yards. As a rookie he led the Jets in receiving with 36 catches, the first Jet ever to lead the team in both rushing and receiving. John is the big smacking kind of fullback the pros like, but he's also agile enough to catch passes.
Riggins has 4.6 speed in the 40 and won a state high school sprint championship in Kansas. He attended Kansas U., where he broke Gale Sayers' career rushing record. John had to learn pass blocking as a pro because he concentrated on running as a collegian. He learned his lessons well.
'Fastest learner we've ever had,' according to assistant coach Ken Meyer.
Riggins sports a blond bushy hairdo and goes for mod clothes. He wants to return to his Kansas hometown and run for mayor someday."
-Jim Benagh, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1972 Edition
"The Jets' leading rusher in his rookie campaign of 1971, John was sixth in the AFC in that department.
"Riggins became the first player in Jets history to lead the team in both rushing and receiving last year as a rookie. He rolled up 769 yards, third most in Jet annals and the best since 1964 as he held down the starting fullback slot throughout the season. He also caught 36 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns. His 36 grabs were the most by a Jet running back since 1966 when Matt Snell hauled in 48. Riggins teamed with Emerson Boozer to give the Jets their most potent running attack in history- 1,888 yards.
John was named to several NFL all-rookie teams after finishing sixth in the AFC rushing stats. He proved himself to be the all-around durable player that Weeb Ewbank expected him to be. He blocked exceptionally well, both leading Boozer through the holes and picking up the blitzes.
Riggins had particularly outstanding days against New England twice and against Cincinnati, going over 90 yards in all three outings. In the rain at Foxboro, he ran for 93 yards, and in the return against the Pats late in the season, he rolled up 91 yards and a touchdown. Against the Bengals, in the final game, he fell shy of the century mark with 99 yards. He scored two touchdowns on receptions, a 32-yarder from Bob Davis against Buffalo and a 31-yard Davis toss at San Diego. In the Jets' 13-10 upset win over Kansas City it was Riggins' 25-yard-run to the Chiefs' 4-yard line which set up the Jets' first touchdown.
Riggins has been compared by Ewbank to Alan Ameche, Marion Motley and Snell in terms of potential. 'One of the fastest learners I ever had,' said Ewbank after Riggins reported from the College All-Star game and picked up the offense in a matter of days. After a hesitant start in his first preseason outing against Oakland, he broke out with 73 yards on eight carries against the Giants. He was a first round draft choice in 1971.
His brother, Billy, is a running back at Kansas. John set the 60-yard dash state record in high school with a 6.4 and was twice a state 100-yard dash champ with 9.8. He majored in journalism and public relations.
John hails from Centralia, Kansas, a town with only 500 people and no street signs."
-The New York Jets Official 1972 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos
He broke Gale Sayers' rushing record at Kansas with 2,706 yards in three years and also set a Jayhawk season mark with 1,131 yards as a senior. John had four games over 160 yards in college including a 189-yard show against Kansas State as a sophomore.
John majored in journalism at Kansas."
-1972 Topps No. 13
"Riggins became the first player in Jets history to lead the team in both rushing and receiving last year as a rookie. He rolled up 769 yards, third most in Jet annals and the best since 1964 as he held down the starting fullback slot throughout the season. He also caught 36 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns. His 36 grabs were the most by a Jet running back since 1966 when Matt Snell hauled in 48. Riggins teamed with Emerson Boozer to give the Jets their most potent running attack in history- 1,888 yards.
John was named to several NFL all-rookie teams after finishing sixth in the AFC rushing stats. He proved himself to be the all-around durable player that Weeb Ewbank expected him to be. He blocked exceptionally well, both leading Boozer through the holes and picking up the blitzes.
Riggins had particularly outstanding days against New England twice and against Cincinnati, going over 90 yards in all three outings. In the rain at Foxboro, he ran for 93 yards, and in the return against the Pats late in the season, he rolled up 91 yards and a touchdown. Against the Bengals, in the final game, he fell shy of the century mark with 99 yards. He scored two touchdowns on receptions, a 32-yarder from Bob Davis against Buffalo and a 31-yard Davis toss at San Diego. In the Jets' 13-10 upset win over Kansas City it was Riggins' 25-yard-run to the Chiefs' 4-yard line which set up the Jets' first touchdown.
Riggins has been compared by Ewbank to Alan Ameche, Marion Motley and Snell in terms of potential. 'One of the fastest learners I ever had,' said Ewbank after Riggins reported from the College All-Star game and picked up the offense in a matter of days. After a hesitant start in his first preseason outing against Oakland, he broke out with 73 yards on eight carries against the Giants. He was a first round draft choice in 1971.
His brother, Billy, is a running back at Kansas. John set the 60-yard dash state record in high school with a 6.4 and was twice a state 100-yard dash champ with 9.8. He majored in journalism and public relations.
John hails from Centralia, Kansas, a town with only 500 people and no street signs."
-The New York Jets Official 1972 Yearbook, edited by Frank Ramos
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