He started in Super Bowl XI to cap that season and helped Minnesota advance to the 1977 NFC Championship game.

In his last year, Riley started every game despite playing the entire season with his left hand in a cast because of a broken thumb.

Riley went back to left tackle for the remainder of the season as his teammate said the blind side position was too challenging.

Riley was voted by his teammates to be the recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award in 1984 largely in part of playing his entire last year with a broken thumb.

Riley resided in Southern California after his retirement where he owned a successful commercial property maintenance business in Irvine.

He appeared as an extra in five movies, including "The Bear Bryant Story", "North Dallas Forty", and "Against All Odds".