Art Monk
Encyclopedia
James Arthur "Art" Monk (born December 5, 1957) is a former American football
wide receiver
in the National Football League
for the Washington Redskins
, New York Jets
, and the Philadelphia Eagles
. Monk was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 2008.
He is a distant relative of jazz pioneer Thelonious Monk
.
at Syracuse University
, where he was a four-year OrangeMen letter
winner (1976–79). He led the team in receiving in 1977, 1978 and 1979 and still ranks in the top 10 on several school career record lists, including career receptions (sixth), all-time receiving yards (seventh) and receiving yards per game (ninth). While there, Monk was a graduate of the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
in the first round of the 1980 NFL Draft
by the Washington Redskins
. During his rookie
year, he was a unanimous All-Rookie selection and had 58 receptions, which was a Redskins' rookie record.
In 1984
, Monk caught an NFL record 106 receptions for a career-best 1,372 yards. He caught eight or more passes in six games, had five games of 100 yards or more, and in a game against the San Francisco 49ers
caught ten passes for 200 yards. That season, he earned team MVP
honors and his first Pro Bowl
selection. Monk went over the 1,000-yard mark in each of the following two seasons, becoming the first Redskins receiver to produce three consecutive 1,000 yard seasons. He also became the first Redskins player to catch 70 or more passes in three consecutive seasons. In 1989
, he was part of a prolific wide receiver trio (along with Gary Clark
and Ricky Sanders
) nicknamed "The Posse," who became the first trio of wide receivers in NFL history to post 1,000-plus yards in the same season.
During Monk's 14 seasons with the Redskins, the team won three Super Bowl
s (XVII
, XXII
, and XXVI
) and had only three losing 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 also selected to play in the Pro Bowl following the 1984, 1985 and 1986 seasons.
Nine times during his 15-season career with the Redskins, New York Jets
, and Philadelphia Eagles
, Monk exceeded 50 catches in a season and five times gained more than 1,000 receiving yards. In 1992
, with his 820th career catch, Monk became the NFL's then-all-time leader in receptions.
Monk finished his career with 940 receptions for 12,721 yards and 68 touchdowns, along with 332 rushing yards. He was the first player in NFL history to record over 100 receptions in a season and over 900 receptions in a career. His most noteworthy NFL accomplishment was his record for career receptions (940), which was broken by Jerry Rice
in 1995
during Monk's last season in the league. Monk became the league's all-time leading receiver in a Monday Night game
against Denver
on October 12, 1992, with his 820th reception. However, later that year Monk lost his all-time single season reception record to Sterling Sharpe
, who finished with 108. He was the first to eclipse 900 receptions and retired with the most consecutive games with a catch (183). He was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
. Monk also became the first player in the league to record a touchdown reception in 15 consecutive seasons as well as the only player ever to record at least 35 receptions in 15 consecutive seasons. Through the course of his 14 years with the Redskins, Monk converted nearly two-thirds of his 888 catches into first downs.
On August 2, 2008, Monk, along with fellow Washington Redskins teammate Darrell Green
, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Upon his induction into the Hall of Fame, Monk received the longest standing ovation in Pro Football Hall of Fame history, lasting four minutes and four seconds when later timed by NFL Films.
Seasons among the league's top 10
Among the league's all-time top 20
.
, Tim Johnson
and Earnest Byner
. The foundation provides youth with the environment needed to equip them with the skills, training and resources necessary to compete successfully in society through the Student Training Opportunity Program (STOP). The program serves more than 50 high school students, four days a week during the school year and five days a week during the summer providing after-school programs, tutoring and mentoring.
Founded in 1983, the Art Monk Football Camp has graduated over 14,000 athletes.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Monk was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 2008.
He is a distant relative of jazz pioneer Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
.
College career
Monk attended and played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, where he was a four-year OrangeMen letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
winner (1976–79). He led the team in receiving in 1977, 1978 and 1979 and still ranks in the top 10 on several school career record lists, including career receptions (sixth), all-time receiving yards (seventh) and receiving yards per game (ninth). While there, Monk was a graduate of the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Professional career
Monk was draftedNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
in the first round of the 1980 NFL Draft
1980 NFL Draft
The 1980 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 29–30, 1980. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
by the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. During his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
year, he was a unanimous All-Rookie selection and had 58 receptions, which was a Redskins' rookie record.
In 1984
1984 NFL season
The 1984 NFL season was the 65th regular season of the National Football League. The Colts relocated from Baltimore, Maryland to Indianapolis, Indiana....
, Monk caught an NFL record 106 receptions for a career-best 1,372 yards. He caught eight or more passes in six games, had five games of 100 yards or more, and in a game against the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
caught ten passes for 200 yards. That season, he earned team MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
honors and his first Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection. Monk went over the 1,000-yard mark in each of the following two seasons, becoming the first Redskins receiver to produce three consecutive 1,000 yard seasons. He also became the first Redskins player to catch 70 or more passes in three consecutive seasons. In 1989
1989 NFL season
The 1989 NFL season was the 70th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced his retirement...
, he was part of a prolific wide receiver trio (along with Gary Clark
Gary Clark
Gary C. Clark is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League who played for the Washington Redskins , Phoenix Cardinals and Miami Dolphins .-Early life:...
and Ricky Sanders
Ricky Sanders
Ricky Wayne Sanders is a former American football wide receiver who played for eight seasons with the Washington Redskins and one for the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League from 1986 to 1994...
) nicknamed "The Posse," who became the first trio of wide receivers in NFL history to post 1,000-plus yards in the same season.
During Monk's 14 seasons with the Redskins, the team won three Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s (XVII
Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII was an American football game played on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the strike-shortened 1982 regular season...
, XXII
Super Bowl XXII
Super Bowl XXII was an American football game played on January 31, 1988 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1987 regular season...
, and XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI was an American football game played on January 26, 1992 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota to decide the National Football League champion following the 1991 regular season...
) and had only three losing seasons. He was an All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
and All-NFC choice in 1984
1984 All-Pro Team
The 1984 All-Pro Team is composed of the National Football League players that were named to the Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Pro Football Writers Association, Pro Football Weekly, and The Sporting News in 1984. Both first- and second- teams are listed for the AP and NEA...
and 1985
1984 All-Pro Team
The 1984 All-Pro Team is composed of the National Football League players that were named to the Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Pro Football Writers Association, Pro Football Weekly, and The Sporting News in 1984. Both first- and second- teams are listed for the AP and NEA...
and was named second-team All-NFC in 1986. He was also selected to play in the Pro Bowl following the 1984, 1985 and 1986 seasons.
Nine times during his 15-season career with the Redskins, New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Monk exceeded 50 catches in a season and five times gained more than 1,000 receiving yards. In 1992
1992 NFL season
The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots–Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that...
, with his 820th career catch, Monk became the NFL's then-all-time leader in receptions.
Monk finished his career with 940 receptions for 12,721 yards and 68 touchdowns, along with 332 rushing yards. He was the first player in NFL history to record over 100 receptions in a season and over 900 receptions in a career. His most noteworthy NFL accomplishment was his record for career receptions (940), which was broken by Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
in 1995
1995 NFL season
The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars...
during Monk's last season in the league. Monk became the league's all-time leading receiver in a Monday Night game
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
against Denver
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on October 12, 1992, with his 820th reception. However, later that year Monk lost his all-time single season reception record to Sterling Sharpe
Sterling Sharpe
Sterling Sharpe is a former American football wide receiver and an analyst for the NFL Network. He attended the University of South Carolina, and played from 1988 to 1994 with the Green Bay Packers.-Early life:...
, who finished with 108. He was the first to eclipse 900 receptions and retired with the most consecutive games with a catch (183). He was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
The NFL 1980s All-Decade Team was chosen by voters of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The team was composed of outstanding performers in the National Football League in the 1980s...
. Monk also became the first player in the league to record a touchdown reception in 15 consecutive seasons as well as the only player ever to record at least 35 receptions in 15 consecutive seasons. Through the course of his 14 years with the Redskins, Monk converted nearly two-thirds of his 888 catches into first downs.
On August 2, 2008, Monk, along with fellow Washington Redskins teammate Darrell Green
Darrell Green
Darrell Ray Green is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League who played for the Washington Redskins from 1983 to 2002. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest cornerbacks to ever play football...
, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Upon his induction into the Hall of Fame, Monk received the longest standing ovation in Pro Football Hall of Fame history, lasting four minutes and four seconds when later timed by NFL Films.
Statistics
Career Statistics- Total Games Played: 224
- Total Receptions: 940
- Total Reception Yards: 12,721
- Total Regular Season Touchdowns: 68
- Total Playoff Touchdowns: 7
- 1,000-yard seasons: 5
- 50+ Reception Seasons: 9
- 100+ yard regular season games: 33
- 150+ yard regular season games: 7
- 200+ yard regular season games: 2
- 100+ yard playoff games: 5
Seasons among the league's top 10
- Receptions: 1984 - 1st, 1985 - 2nd, 1988 - 9th (tied), 1989 - 3rd (tied)
- Receiving yards: 1984 - 4th, 1985 - 3rd, 1989 - 10th
- Receiving TDs: 1991 - 9th (tied)
Among the league's all-time top 20
- Receptions: 10th (940)
- Receiving yards: 14th (12,721)
- Consecutive games with at least one reception: 4th (183); trails Jerry Rice (274), Marvin Harrison (190), Hines Ward (186), Terrell Owens (185)
Redskins records
- Receptions in a season (106)
- Yards from scrimmage (13,053)
- Rookie reception record (58)
- Receiving yards (12,026)
- Receptions (888)
- Consecutive games with at least one reception (164)
NFL Records
- First player to record a touchdown reception in 15 consecutive seasons.
- Consecutive seasons with at least 35 receptions (15) - Terrell Owens has a chance to tie this record in 2010
- Consecutive seasons with at least 398 yards receiving (15) - Terrell Owens has a chance to tie this record in 2010
- First player to record over 102+ receptions (106 in 19841984 NFL seasonThe 1984 NFL season was the 65th regular season of the National Football League. The Colts relocated from Baltimore, Maryland to Indianapolis, Indiana....
) in a season before NFL rules changes prior to the 1990 season1990 NFL seasonThe 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League. To increase revenue, the league changed the regular season so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period...
that ushered in the "pass happy era". Still only three players in the next nine years collected 100 passes or more and only one (Sterling SharpeSterling SharpeSterling Sharpe is a former American football wide receiver and an analyst for the NFL Network. He attended the University of South Carolina, and played from 1988 to 1994 with the Green Bay Packers.-Early life:...
in 19921992 NFL seasonThe 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots–Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that...
) surpassed his total. - First player to record over 100+ receptions in the Super Bowl era
- First player to record back to back seasons on 1,200 yards and 90 receptions. 1984, 1985
- First NFL player to reach 820 receptions in a career.
- First NFL player to surpass 900 career receptions, finishing career with 940 (all-time record at the time).
- First player to record at least one reception in 180 consecutive games
- Touchdown receptions against the Arizona (Chi./StL.) Cardinals (0) - tied with Don Hutson
- Receiving yards against the Arizona (Chi./StL.) Cardinals (00)
- Receiving yards against the Philadelphia Eagless (0)
- Receptions against the Arizona (Chi./StL.) Cardinals (0)
- Receptions against the Philadelphia Eagles (00)
- Receptions against the New York Giants (0* Receptions against the Dallas Cowboys (0
Awards
- 1980 Unanimous All Rookie Team Selection
- 1984 - Pro Football Weekly: 1st team all-Pro
- 1984 - UPI: 1st team all-conf.
- 1984 - Associated Press: 1st team all-NFL
- 1984 - Pro Football Writers: 1st team
- 1984 - Newspaper Ent. Assoc.: 2nd team
- 1984 - Pro Football Weekly: 1st team all-NFL
- 1984 - Sporting News: 1st team all-NFL
- 1985 - UPI: 1st team all-conf.
- 1985 - Associated Press: 2nd team all-NFL
- 1985 - Sporting News: 1st team all-NFL
- 1986 - UPI: 2nd team all-conf.
Business
Monk is executive and co-founder of Alliant Merchant Services, an electronic payment services company located in Northern VirginiaNorthern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
.
Community Service
Monk helped found the Good Samaritan Foundation with his Washington teammates Charles MannCharles Mann (football player)
Charles Andre Mann now a business man, is American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers...
, Tim Johnson
Tim Johnson (football)
Timothy Johnson is Senior Pastor at Orlando World Outreach Center in Orlando, Florida and a former professional American football defensive lineman in the National Football League.-College career:...
and Earnest Byner
Earnest Byner
Earnest Alexander Byner is a former American football running back in the National Football League and is currently a running backs coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars...
. The foundation provides youth with the environment needed to equip them with the skills, training and resources necessary to compete successfully in society through the Student Training Opportunity Program (STOP). The program serves more than 50 high school students, four days a week during the school year and five days a week during the summer providing after-school programs, tutoring and mentoring.
Founded in 1983, the Art Monk Football Camp has graduated over 14,000 athletes.
Honors
- Elected to Syracuse University Board of Trustees
- NFL 1980s All-Decade Team Member
- 2008 - NFL Hall of Fame Inductee