Commanders finally decide to retire No. 44 in honor of John Riggins, the team's all-time leading rusher

It took far, far longer than anyone expected, but the Washington Commanders are finally retiring John Riggins' number. The team announced the news on social media Thursday, sending out a video and statement honoring Riggins.

In his nine seasons with Washington, Riggins rushed for 7,472 yards, making him the franchise's all-time leader in the stat. The team will officially retire Riggins' No. 44 during a Nov. 8 game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Riggins began his career with the New York Jets, where he put up solid numbers in five seasons, making one Pro Bowl after rushing for 1,005 yards in 1975.

He signed with Washington ahead of the 1976 season and turned in modest production in his first season with the team before missing time the following year due to a knee injury.

The injury didn't slow him down. Riggins returned in 1978 and experienced his best two seasons in the NFL, rushing for over 1,000 yards in 1978 and 1979.

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He ran into issues with the franchise ahead of the 1980 season, as Riggins wanted to re-negotiate his deal. The team refused, causing Riggins to sit out the entire season. He eventually returned the next year, after the team hired Joe Gibbs as its head coach.

Riggins racked up 13 touchdowns in his first season under Gibbs and then rushed for 553 yards in a strike-shortened 1982 season. But when the playoffs began, Riggins took his game to another level. Across four games, Riggins rushed for 610 yards and scored four touchdowns. Washington won the Super Bowl that season, with Riggins winning MVP honors for his performance that included one of the title game's most famous runs.

The following season, Riggins was named to the All-Pro team for the first time in his career, rushing for 1,347 yards and leading the league with 24 touchdowns. He turned in a similarly excellent season in 1984, rushing for 1,239 yards and scoring 14 rushing touchdowns. He was 35 at the time, making him the oldest running back to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season.

Riggins spent one more year in the NFL, rushing for 677 yards and eight scores before retiring.

Since his retirement, Riggins was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992 and the University of Kansas' Ring of Honor in 2007.

The only thing missing was recognition from the Commanders. That didn't come shortly after Riggins retired from the game and then seemed less likely after Riggins called out former team owner Dan Snyder in 2009.

Riggins called Snyder a "bad guy" with a dark heart.

"[T]his is a bad guy that owns this team," Riggins said of Snyder. "I'll just tell you that upfront. Bad guy. And if the commissioner is worried about potential new owners and saying some of these guys shouldn't apply, he might want to police his own inside guys."

Riggins claimed Snyder's ego was ruining the Commanders, adding, "This person knows nothing about football, absolutely nothing."

When asked whether he felt Snyder was actually a bad guy and not just a bad general manager, Riggins said, "This person's heart is dark."

Those comments might explain why Riggins had to wait so long before Washington recognized his efforts.

With Snyder no longer in the picture, it opened the door for Riggins to finally be honored by the franchise. The team finally rectified that wrong Thursday.