The Washington Commanders have a long history of dynamic Pro Bowlers, and they recently announced that they’ll honor perhaps their most famous, John Riggins, by retiring his No. 44 in 2026.
Riggins, Larry Brown, and Clinton Portis are among the greatest running backs in Washington history, but where do they rank on our all-time list?
To determine these rankings, we factored in counting stats, team success, and their time spent in Washington.
5. Stephen Davis (1996-2002)
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Davis might be best remembered for his time in Carolina, partly because he rushed for 1,444 yards on the 2003 team that reached the Super Bowl. But his 1999-to-2001 run (pun not intended) in Washington was special, as he averaged 1,385 yards and 326 carries. Talk about being a workhorse.
The 1996 fourth-round pick had nearly 5,800 yards during his seven seasons in Washington, and he’s an easy pick for our list.
It’s just too bad that he only played in two playoff games while with the Redskins.
4. Alfred Morris (2012-2015)
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Oh, yes. Despite only being a sixth-round pick, Morris set Washington’s single-season rushing record with 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns as a rookie in 2012. He quickly proved he wasn’t a one-year wonder, topping 1,000 rushing yards in each of the next two years.
Morris is fifth on Washington’s all-time rushing list. There are certainly arguments for Terry Allen and Ernest Byner to have made our list, but we're sticking with “Fredo.”
3. Larry Brown (1969-1976)
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Fun fact: Larry Brown was the first running back following the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to win the MVP, rushing for 1,216 yards and adding another 473 yards through the air.
A 1969 eighth-round pick, Brown totaled nearly 6,000 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns in eight seasons.
Brown accomplished all of this despite being born deaf in his right ear. He’s a member of Washington’s Hall of Fame, and his No. 43 has only been issued once since his 1976 retirement.
2. Clinton Portis (2004-2010)
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If not for concussions, Portis was well on pace to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
A 2002 second-round pick of the Broncos, Portis joined the Redskins in the Champ Bailey trade ahead of the 2004 season; by that point, Portis already had two 1,500-yard seasons and was still only 23.
From 2004 to 2008, Portis averaged 1,221 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. His 1,516-yard 2005 season ranks second in Washington history behind only Morris. What would have happened had Portis stayed healthy?
1. John Riggins (1976-79; 1981-85)
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Not only was Riggins a lock to make this list, but he really had limited competition for the No. 1 spot.
He remains Washington’s all-time leader in rushing yards (7,472) and rushing touchdowns (79; nearly double the next closest), and he’s also one of the eight running backs to win Super Bowl MVP. Running for 166 yards and a touchdown on nearly 40 carries goes a long way in earning you a spot in that club.
Although Riggins only made one Pro Bowl, he had five seasons with at least double-digit touchdowns, including a 24-score campaign in 1983. There’s a reason why no Washington player will ever wear No. 44 again.
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