NFL HOF Spotlight: Art Monk

This NFL Hall of Fame spotlight focuses on one of the greatest wide receivers to grace the gridiron—Art Monk. Playing for the Washington Redskins, the New York Jets, and the Philadelphia Eagles, Monk established himself as a trailblazer in the receiving department.

Monk’s achievements redefine greatness—becoming the first NFL receiver to surpass 900 catches is just the start. In this article, we dive deeper into what truly cemented his legendary status.

From White Plains to Syracuse

Monk was born in White Plains, New York on December 5, 1957. Born to a welder and his wife, Monk worked his way to the top one step at a time.

He entered Syracuse University in 1976, where he played college football. From his first year, he registered his presence on the Syracuse Orange football team. In his final three years there, Monk led the team in receiving. He remains among the top 10 in the school’s record for career receptions, all-time receiving yards, and receiving yards per game.

In the 1980 NFL Draft, the Redskins utilized their first-round pick (18th overall pick) to bring Monk to Washington.

Professional Football Career

Disappointed that they couldn’t make the playoffs of the 1979 season, the Redskins were looking to change things up a bit. They added bright sparks to their roster, Monk being one of them. In Monk’s rookie season, he made his bosses proud. Playing all sixteen games, he finished third in the team’s rushing and receiving leaderboard. Monk’s 58 receptions in his rookie season set a Redskin rookie record. He was also a unanimous All-Rookie selection. However, those personal successes weren’t enough to fetch the team a playoff appearance.

On the contrary, the Redskins finished with an even worse record (6-10) than the 1979 season (10-6). But it became increasingly clear to the Redskins’ bosses that they had a star on their hands.

Redskins MVP

Although Monk didn’t have the most boisterous start to life in the NFL, he was a consistent figure on the roster. Whenever called upon, he always gave his all.

But the 1984 season took his career to incredibly insane heights. In the second game of the season against the San Francisco 49ers, Monk was among the standout stars in offense. He caught ten passes for 200 yards. Although the Redskins were eventually overpowered by the 49ers in that game, Monk had set the tone for his best season yet. He consistently delivered impressive numbers in catching and receiving yards. He wrapped up the season by setting a new NFL benchmark with 106 receptions, achieving a career-high total of 1,372 receiving yards. Monk’s performances earned him his first Pro Bowl selection. He also made it into the First-team All-Pro. Unarguably, Monk was the best player in the Redskins roster in 1984, and he rightly earned the team’s MVP.

Brick by brick, Monk was becoming not just a Redskins phenomenon but an NFL legend. He replicated most of his 1984 successes in the following two seasons, crossing the 1000-yard mark in both 1985 and 1986. His three seasons of pure magic saw him shatter many Redskins records. He was the first Redskins player to catch more than 70 passes in three consecutive seasons. But Monk didn’t stop there. He was hungry for more.

A Quiet Leader

One significant aspect of Monk’s career was his leadership. Unlike typical leaders, he preferred to shy away from the limelight, yet when he spoke, everyone on the team listened.

Joe Gibbs, the Head coach of the Redskins from 1981 to 1992 praised Monk’s leadership. “Here’s a guy that probably said the least of any guy on the team, yet he was one of our best leaders. I know the couple of times he did say something, it stirred the whole team up. That’s one of the things you learn about sports. The players know who the leaders are,” said Gibbs.

Three-time Super Bowl Champion

One of Monk’s most incredible career achievements was winning the Super Bowl three times with the Redskins (Super Bowls XVII, XXII and XXVI). The first Super Bowl victory came on January 30, 1983. Following a strike-shortened 1982 season, the Redskins emerged NFC champions and went on to win the Super Bowl XVII.

In Super Bowl XXII, although quarterback Doug Williams emerged as the best player on the gridiron, the prolific WR trio of Monk, Ricky Sanders, and Gary Clark could not be overlooked. Nicknamed “The Posse,” the trio made history in 1989, becoming the first trio to each surpass 1,000 yards in the same season. Monk was also instrumental in Super Bowl XXVI, helping the Redskins clinch their third Super Bowl.

One of the proudest moments of his career was when he became the NFL’s all-time leading receiver. This achievement came on Monday Night Football against the Denver Broncos. Monk latched onto a 10-yard pass from quarterback Mark Rypien with about three minutes left on the clock. It was a memorable way to finish off a legendary night under the lights.

Departing Washington

After the 1993 season, the Redskins could no longer afford to carry Monk’s old salary under the cap. Monk had to leave but his legacy remained drilled into the Redskins’ history. Monk agreed contract terms with the Jets in 1994. After spending only one season there, he moved to the Eagles.

He eventually called off what was an explosive career. Monk ended his professional football career with 940 receptions for 12,721 yards, scoring 68 touchdowns.

Career Accolades

Monk’s career is one that he will always look back to and be proud of. He reached heights that beat even his wildest imagination.

According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he made three Pro Bowl selections. He also got into the First-team All-Pro in 1984 and the Second-team All-Pro in 1985. He still holds the record for the highest receiving yards for a Redskins player. He also set several other NFL records, including becoming the first player to reach 900 receptions.

Monk was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

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