The Washington Commanders delivered news that was long overdue on Tuesday: the team is retiring Art Monk’s No. 81.
The announcement was met with celebration across social media, particularly by someone who knows what it means to reach the sport’s highest level.
Why Is Art Monk So Celebrated?
Washington drafted Monk in the first round of the 1980 NFL draft (No. 18 overall after his four years at Syracuse. As a senior on a team that went 7-5 in 1979, Monk had 716 yards receiving on 40 catches with three touchdowns after playing running back his first three years with the Orangemen, as they were then known.
Monk made an immediate impact in his first year with Washington, topping his college stats with 58 catches for 797 yards and three TDs while being named to the NFL’s All-Rookie team.
Twelve-year NFL veteran, two-time Super Bowl champion, and current ESPN commentator Damien Woody posted a six-word message on X reacting to the news of the Commanders retiring Monk’s jersey number:
“One of my childhood favorites. Congratulations”
One of my childhood favorites. Congratulations 👏🏿 https://t.co/FmlqwyqZWq
— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) July 15, 2025
Woody’s connection to the region runs deep. He grew up in Beaverdam, Virginia, located roughly an hour-and-a-half southwest of Washington, D.C., and was born in 1977. This means he was watching and following Monk shine during Washington’s heyday.
Monk played 16 years in the NFL, 14 of those with Washington. He is still the franchise leader in catches with 888 and in receiving yards with 12,026, and no one is even close to him in either category. He had several productive seasons before exploding in 1984, setting a franchise record (since broken) with 106 receptions with seven TDs.
Despite having retired in 1995 and with the heavy influx of the passing game since, Monk is still 23rd in NFL history in yards (12,721) and 24th in receptions (940).
Monk won two Super Bowls with Washington in 1987 and 1991. In the latter, a 37-24 win over Buffalo, he had seven receptions for 113 yards. In three playoff games in 1991, Monk corralled 15 catches for 252 yards. In 1986, in three games, he led all playoff receivers with 18 receptions, 241 yards, and two touchdowns despite Washington not getting to the Super Bowl (and being shut out in the NFC Championship Game).
It took a while but in his fourth consecutive year of being a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he was elected in 2008.
“I’ve always taken the attitude that if it happens, it happens,” he said at the time. “People in this community were always very excited and optimistic about me getting in, but I always took the approach that I just didn’t think about it.
“It would have been nice to get in first year, second year, third year. Whether I got this earlier or later, just the fact that I’m in is really all that matters.”
The same could be said of Monk’s jersey retirement. But better late than never, and worthy of the congratulations from a fellow Super Bowl champ.
