{
  "id": 27465,
  "title": "Pro Football Hall of Famer to join Commanders' preseason broadcast team",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/pro-football-hall-of-famer-to-join-commanders-preseason-broadcast-team",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-02T04:51:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/pro-football-hall-famer-join-045152194.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Washington Commanders welcomed two Pro Football Hall of Famers to their \"Back Together Weekend\" on August 1, 2026. Team president Mark Clouse introduced John Riggins and Darrell Green, who were met with enthusiastic cheers from Commanders' fans. Riggins, who made his mark wearing the iconic No. 44 jersey, will now join Washington's preseason broadcast team. Alongside Dan Hellie and Brian Mitchell, he will provide play-by-play commentary. Bryan Colbert Jr. will cover the sidelines. Riggins will also contribute to the team's in-house podcasts. Notably, the Commanders are officially retiring Riggins' No. 44 jersey, a number that has remained in use since his retirement following the 1985 season. In addition to his pre-game role, Riggins returns to the Washington, D.C. area, as Dan Hellie, a Maryland native and former sports anchor at WRC Channel 4, joins the team. Hellie, currently working with UFC and Fox Sports, brings a wealth of experience as a play-by-play analyst and sports anchor. The Commanders' preseason schedule kicks off on August 14 against the Miami Dolphins.",
  "summary": "The Washington Commanders have announced that John Riggins, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, will join their broadcast team for preseason games. Riggins will be in the booth alongside Dan Hellie and Brian Mitchell, while Bryan Colbert Jr. will report from the sidelines. According to Yahoo Sports, this move is part of the team's efforts to shape their future, and Riggins will also contribute to some of the Commanders' in-house podcasts.\n\nRiggins, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992, is a legendary figure in Washington football history. He famously wore the No. 44 jersey, which was recently officially retired by the Commanders. Yahoo Sports notes that although no one has worn the No. 44 jersey since Riggins' retirement in 1985, it was never formally retired until last month.\n\nThe Commanders' preseason broadcast team will be led by play-by-play announcer Dan Hellie, who is a Maryland native and has previously worked as a sports anchor in Washington. The team's preseason schedule begins on August 14 with a game against the Miami Dolphins, and all three preseason games will be broadcast on WUSA9.",
  "key_points": [
    "Hall of Famers John Riggins and Darrell Green join Commanders' preseason broadcast team.",
    "Bryan Colbert Jr. covers sidelines; Commanders retire Riggins' No. 44 jersey."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/27465.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}