Art Monk Receiving Yards Record

Lore & Background

Monk was selected 18th overall in the first round of the 1980 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. During his 14 seasons with the Redskins (1980–1993), the team won three Super Bowls (XVII, XXII, and XXVI). He also played one season with the New York Jets (1994) and one season with the Philadelphia Eagles (1995), for a total of 16 NFL seasons. 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. In 1984, Monk caught a then-NFL record 106 receptions for a career-best 1,372 yards. He set the record for career receptions when he caught his 820th in a Monday Night game against Denver on October 12, 1992, and became the first player to eclipse 900 receptions, pushing the record to 940 before being overtaken by Jerry Rice. He retired with the 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.

In Their Own Story

The lights of the old RFK Stadium hummed with a familiar intensity as Monk lined up on the right flank. The crowd's roar was a distant rumble compared to the sharp crack of the quarterback's snap. He ran his route, a perfect slant that cut through the defensive zone like a knife through butter. As the ball spiraled toward him, time seemed to suspend; he caught it just as a defender collided with his shoulder pad, absorbing the impact without flinching. He tucked the ball tight and sprinted down the sideline, adding another yard to a total that would eventually outlast every other receiver in franchise history.

Reader's Guide

Monk's record for most receptions in a season (106 in 1984) stood until broken by Sterling Sharpe's 108 in 1992. He also set the record for career receptions (820) and became the first player to surpass 900 career receptions, finishing with 940. He was the first player to record a touchdown reception in 15 consecutive seasons and the first to record at least 35 receptions in 15 consecutive seasons. He also became the first player in the Super Bowl era to record over 100 receptions in a season. The source article does not mention Monk missing Super Bowl XXVI due to injury; it states the team won Super Bowl XXVI during his tenure.

Did You Know?

• Monk caught a then-NFL record 106 receptions in 1984.
• He was the first player to eclipse 900 career receptions.
• Monk retired with the most consecutive games with a catch (183).
• He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.