Fourth-and-1. A little more than 10 minutes remaining. The Super Bowl hanging in the balance.
Trailing Miami 17-13 late in Super Bowl XVII at the Rose Bowl, Washington faced that pressure-packed situation in 1983 as the franchise sought its first Super Bowl title.
Luckily, the "Diesel" was there to carry the day.
John Riggins broke a tackle at the line and not only got the first down, he rambled for a 43-yard touchdown that put the then-Redskins ahead to stay in a game they would win 27-17.
The jersey Riggins wore that day in an 166-yard performance that won him the game's MVP award will be sold at Hunt Auctions next month at Super Bowl LX in the Bay Area.
The NFL and Hunt are again partnering for the annual auction, which is celebrating its 18th year. The event will feature more than 700 historic NFL items, headlined by Riggins' personal collection.
Riggins, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1992, played five seasons for the New York Jets before playing his most impactful football in Washington.
The two paramount items from Riggins' collection come from that Super Bowl performance: his game-worn jersey and his Super Bowl ring.
Both items carry six-figure estimates, with the jersey estimated to sell for $100,000-$200,000 and the ring from $75,000-$150,000.
"For me, without the fans, there was no football," Riggins said in a statement. "You gave me something far greater than anything memorabilia can represent. Knowing my teammates and I helped create moments you’ll always remember is the only legacy I need. Now, it feels right to pass these keepsakes along to the people who made them matter in the first place."
A portion of the proceeds from the auction will go directly toward charities of the NFL Auction Program.
Want more stories like this? Subscribe to the cllct newsletter and follow cllct on X and Instagram.
Matt Liberman is a reporter and video producer for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.