Commanders to retire Hall of Fame receiver Art Monk's No. 81

Washington Post

6 days ago

The Washington Commanders announced they will retire Art Monk's No. 81 this season, making him the sixth player to receive the honor. He joins Sammy Baugh (33), Bobby Mitchell (49), Sonny Jurgensen (9), Sean Taylor (21), and most recently, Darrell Green (28), whose jersey was retired during Washington's win over the Carolina Panthers last season.
Monk, the franchise's all-time leading receiver (888 career catches for 12,026 yards) who spent 14 seasons in Washington (1980 through 1993), will fittingly be honored during the Commanders' Week 9 game against the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 2, when the franchise will debut its 'Super Bowl Era' alternate uniforms, designed to mimic the uniforms Washington wore during its three Super Bowls (XVII, XXII, XXVI) in the 1980s and early 90s.
In a video released by the team, a contingent from the Commanders travels to Monk's home in Orlando to deliver the news.
'Art, for everything you've done, not just for this team, but for all of us who had the honor to play alongside you, this is a moment that's been a long time coming,' former teammate Gary Clark said, wearing a burgundy No. 81 T-shirt as he read from a prepared script on his phone. 'You showed us what greatness looked like every single day in your work ethic and your humility and how you carried this franchise with dignity. You changed the standard for wide receivers, not just here in Washington but across the league. And today, we get to do what should have been done a long time ago. We get to honor you and tell you on behalf of your brothers, this organization and the entire Commanders/Redskins family that your jersey will be retired.'
Monk spent his final two seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets (1994) and Philadelphia Eagles (1995) before retiring. At the time, he was the NFL's all-time leader in career receptions (940) and receiving yards (12,721). He now ranks 24th and 23rd, respectively.
Monk set a then-single-season record with 106 catches in 1984. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Monk, Clark and Ricky Sanders formed Washington's famed receiving trio, nicknamed 'the Posse,' who became the second such group to each have 1,000 receiving yards in the same season with a team.
'Number 81 will forever belong to you, me and Ricky Sanders,' Clark told Monk. 'We are the Posse, and now this team is making your legacy ride with every fan, every player, every young man watching. You earned this. We love you, brother.'
Harris has made a point to honor the franchise's history since purchasing the team from former owner Daniel Snyder in 2023. Harris's first call after fellow NFL owners approved the deal was to Monk.
Over the last two years, many former players have returned to games at Northwest Stadium, including John Riggins, Robert Griffin III and Green. The team also brought back the gold pants it used to wear decades ago, announced plans to build a new statue in honor of late safety Sean Taylor, named Williams an honorary captain during the 2024 playoffs and recently named its new draft room at its Ashburn facility after former general manager Bobby Beathard.
Last week, the team unveiled its Super Bowl Era alternate uniforms that will be worn for three games this season. Earlier this year, the Commanders cut a deal with D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) to build a new stadium on the site of former RFK stadium. The D.C. Council approved funding for the development on Monday but its expected to vote on the specifics of the deal at a later date.