Art Monk

Lore & Background

Monk was born in White Plains, New York, and attended White Plains High School. He played college football at Syracuse University, where he was a four-year letterman and led the team in receiving in 1977, 1978, and 1979. He was selected 18th overall in the first round of the 1980 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. During his 14 seasons with the Redskins, the team won three Super Bowls (XVII, XXII, and XXVI). He was an All-Pro and All-NFC choice in 1984 and 1985 and was named second-team All-NFC in 1986. He was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 1984, 1985 and 1986 seasons. Monk set the NFL record for career receptions (940) and was the first player to eclipse 900 receptions. He also set the record for most consecutive games with a catch (183). He was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team. On August 2, 2008, Monk was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, receiving the longest standing ovation in Hall of Fame history (four minutes and four seconds). In 2012, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. On July 15, 2025, the Washington Commanders announced they would retire Monk's No. 81 jersey in the 2025 season.

In Their Own Story

The stadium lights hummed over the gridiron as Monk lined up against a defensive back, his focus absolute. He ran a perfect slant, catching the ball on the run with hands that seemed to have a magnetic pull. It was a moment of pure football poetry, but it happened in Washington or Carolina, not New York. For Jets fans, this image remains a phantom memory, a ghost of a player who almost could have been theirs.

Reader's Guide

Monk's career highlights include three Super Bowl championships, two first-team All-Pro selections, three Pro Bowl selections, and being the NFL receptions leader in 1984. He holds NFL records for first player to record a touchdown reception in 15 consecutive seasons, consecutive seasons with at least 35 receptions (15), first player to record over 100 receptions in the Super Bowl era, first player to reach 820 and 900 career receptions, and first player to record at least one reception in 180 consecutive games. He also holds Redskins franchise records for yards from scrimmage (13,053), receiving yards (12,026), and receptions (888).

Did You Know?

• Monk is a relative (first cousin once removed) of jazz pioneer Thelonious Monk.
• He caught a then-NFL record 106 receptions in 1984 for a career-best 1,372 yards.
• Monk was part of a prolific wide receiver trio nicknamed 'The Posse' in 1989, along with Gary Clark and Ricky Sanders.
• He is executive and co-founder of Alliant Merchant Services, an electronic payment services company in Northern Virginia.
• Monk helped found the Good Samaritan Foundation with Washington teammates Charles Mann, Tim Johnson, and Earnest Byner.