Gerald Riggs

Last updated

Gerald Riggs
Gerald Riggs 2013.jpg
No. 42, 37
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1960-11-06) November 6, 1960 (age 63)
Tullos, Louisiana, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school: Bonanza (Las Vegas, Nevada)
College: Arizona State
NFL draft: 1982  / Round: 1 / Pick: 9
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:8,188
Average:4.1
Touchdowns:69

Gerald Antonio Riggs (born November 6, 1960) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons from 1982 to 1988 and the Washington Redskins from 1989 to 1991.

Contents

Before his NFL career, he attended Bonanza High School in Las Vegas, Nevada [1] and after graduation attended Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. He played sparingly in 1978, running for 410 yards and four touchdowns along with 10 catches for 126 yards. In 1979, he ran for 363 yards with three touchdowns and 14 catches for 120 yards and one touchdown. In 1980, he continued in a backup role and ran for 422 yards with four touchdowns with 15 catches for 165 yards. As a starter in 1981, he ran for 891 yards with six touchdowns and an average of six yards per carry, while also recording 11 catches for 139 yards in 11 games.

He would close out his collegiate career with 2,086 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground and 50 catches for 550 yards. In the 1982 NFL draft, he was selected with the 9th overall pick by Atlanta.

Riggs made the Pro Bowl three times in his career from 1985 to 1987. His best season was in 1985, when he rushed for 1,719 yards and ten touchdowns, while also catching 33 passes for 267 yards, all without a fumble. He was the only running back in the 1980s to record a 1,000 yard rushing season without a fumble. In the three seasons from 1984 to 1986, Riggs amassed a whopping 5,212 combined rushing and receiving yards, and scored 32 touchdowns. In his seven years with the Falcons, he rushed for 6,631 yards, making him the franchise all-time leading rusher. Prior to the 1989 season, Riggs was traded to the Washington Redskins.

In his final year of 1991, Riggs rushed for 248 yards and 11 touchdowns, assisting his team to a 14–2 record. He is the only player to rush for 11 touchdowns in fewer than 80 attempts in a single season. He went on to rush for four touchdowns in Washington's two playoff games, and two touchdowns in Washington's 37–24 win over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI; it was the last game he played in. His six touchdowns in the postseason tied an NFL record.

Riggs finished his 10 NFL seasons with 8,188 rushing yards and 69 touchdowns, along with 201 receptions for 1,516 yards. Riggs holds the NFL all-time record for most receptions (201) without a receiving touchdown. [2]

He is the father of Gerald Riggs, Jr., former running back at the University of Tennessee, who played for the Miami Dolphins, and Cody Riggs, a cornerback for the Tennessee Titans.

NFL career statistics

Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Led the league
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesRushingReceivingFumbles
GPGSAttYdsAvgY/GLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTDFumFR
1982 ATL 90782993.833.2375231858.015010
1983 ATL 1401004374.431.2408171498.825071
1984 ATL 15143531,4864.399.15713422776.6210112
1985 ATL 16163971,7194.3107.45010332678.144061
1986 ATL 16153431,3273.982.9319241365.711061
1987 ATL 12122038754.372.9442251998.048041
1988 ATL 991134884.354.2341221717.830030
1989 WAS 1272018344.169.55847679.613030
1990 WAS 1001234753.947.52067608.618021
1991 WAS 160782483.215.53211155.05010
Career 129731,9898,1884.163.558692011,5167.5480386

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XXVI</span> 1992 edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XXVI was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Washington Redskins and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Buffalo Bills to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1991 season. The Redskins defeated the Bills by a score of 37–24, becoming the fourth team after the Pittsburgh Steelers, the now Las Vegas Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers to win three Super Bowls. The Bills became the third team, after the Minnesota Vikings and the Denver Broncos to lose back-to-back Super Bowls. The game was played on January 26, 1992, at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the first time the city played host to a Super Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XXXIII</span> 1999 National Football League championship game

Super Bowl XXXIII was an American football game played between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion and defending Super Bowl XXXII champion Denver Broncos and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Atlanta Falcons to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1998 season. The Broncos defeated the Falcons by the score of 34–19, winning their second consecutive Super Bowl, and becoming the first franchise to record consecutive Super Bowl victories & defeats. The game was played on January 31, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Jackson</span> American football player (born 1983)

Steven Rashad Jackson is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons, primarily with the St. Louis Rams. He played college football for the Oregon State Beavers and was selected in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft by the Rams, where he spent his first nine seasons. In his final three seasons, he was a member of the Atlanta Falcons from 2013 to 2014 and the New England Patriots in 2015. Named to three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams during his Rams tenure, Jackson is the franchise's all-time leading rusher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earnest Byner</span> American football player and coach (born 1962)

Earnest Alexander Byner is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates. He is now the running back coach of Out-of-Door Academy.

The National Football League playoffs for the 1991 season began on December 28, 1991. The postseason tournament concluded with the Washington Redskins defeating the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI, 37–24, on January 26, 1992, at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Metcalf</span> American football player (born 1968)

Eric Quinn Metcalf is an American former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins and Green Bay Packers. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection for the Browns and the Chargers. He was also the 1988 US Track and Field Champion in the long jump and a two-time NCAA Champion in the same event at Texas. His father Terry was a running back for the St. Louis Cardinals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Clark (American football)</span> American football player (born 1962)

Gary C. Clark is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins (1985–92), Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals (1993–94), and Miami Dolphins (1995).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Turner (American football)</span> American football player (born 1982)

Michael Turner is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Northern Illinois Huskies, earning second-team All-American honors in 2003. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and also played in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons. He was a two-time All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Falcons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Sanders</span> American football player (born 1962)

Ricky Wayne Sanders is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 12 seasons from 1983 to 1994, two with the United States Football League (USFL)'s Houston Gamblers and 10 in the National Football League (NFL). He played running back, safety, and place kicker as a three-year letterman for Belton High School in Belton, Texas and broke five records.

Joe Dan Washington Jr is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Colts, Washington Redskins, and Atlanta Falcons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 Minnesota Vikings season</span> NFL team season

The 1998 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 38th in the National Football League (NFL). The Vikings became the third team in NFL history to win 15 games during the regular season, which earned them the National Football Conference (NFC) Central division championship and the first overall seed in the NFC playoffs. The team entered the playoffs as the favorite to win Super Bowl XXXIII, but their season ended when they were upset by the Atlanta Falcons 30–27 in the 1998 NFC Championship Game.

The 1992 Dallas Cowboys season was the franchise's 33rd season in the National Football League (NFL) and was the fourth year of the franchise under head coach Jimmy Johnson. The Cowboys made the first of three Super Bowl appearances between 1992 and 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerious Norwood</span> American gridiron football player (born 1983)

Jerious Montreal Norwood is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and is the school's second all-time leading rusher. He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2006 NFL draft.

The 2008 Atlanta Falcons season was the 43rd season for the team in the National Football League (NFL). Overcoming a disappointing 4–12 record, quarterback Michael Vick's dog fighting scandal and head coach Bobby Petrino's abrupt resignation in 2007, the Falcons, who were expected to be in a rebuilding phase, completed the regular season with a surprising 11–5 record and earned the #5 seed in the NFC playoffs under first-year head coach Mike Smith; however, the team fell to the eventual NFC champion Arizona Cardinals in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

The 1991 Buffalo Bills season was the 32nd season and 22nd in the National Football League (NFL). The Buffalo Bills entered the season as defending AFC champions, having lost Super Bowl XXV to the New York Giants. They finished the National Football League's 1991 season with a record of 13 wins and 3 losses, the same record as their previous season, and finished first in the AFC East division. The Bills qualified for their second Super Bowl appearance but lost to the Washington Redskins, 37-24.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Hightower</span> American football player and executive (born 1986)

Timothy Michael Hightower is a former American football running back. He played college football at the University of Richmond and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He was also a member of the Washington Redskins, Blacktips, New Orleans Saints, and San Francisco 49ers. He was named director of alumni relations for the Washington Commanders in 2020.

The National Football League playoffs for the 2012 season began on January 5, 2013. The postseason tournament concluded with the Baltimore Ravens defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, 34–31, on February 3, at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordarrelle Patterson</span> American football player (born 1991)

Cordarrelle Patterson, nicknamed "Flash", is an American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). A versatile utility player, he plays running back, wide receiver, return specialist, and occasionally on defense. Patterson played college football for the Hutchinson Blue Dragons before transferring to the Tennessee Volunteers, where he earned first-team All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, and the Atlanta Falcons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taylor Gabriel</span> American football player (born 1991)

Taylor James Gabriel is a former American football wide receiver who played for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football at Abilene Christian, he signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He also played with the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerald Everett</span> American football player (born 1994)

Gevanni Gerald Rashard Everett is an American football tight end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Alabama, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

References

  1. Riggs' High School information
  2. "Career Most Receptions Without A Touchdown". StatMuse. Retrieved October 24, 2023.