Retired football great Art Monk's jersey number 81 will no longer be worn by commanders.
The Washington Commanders have added another iconic number to their roster of retired jerseys, honouring the exceptional career of Art Monk, a Hall of Fame wide receiver who played a significant role in the team's glory days. The retirement ceremony for Monk's number 81 will take place during the Sunday night game against the Seattle Seahawks on November 2, 2023, marking the ninth week of the current season.
Monk, who spent 14 of his 16 NFL seasons with the Commanders, is arguably one of the greatest players in the franchise's history. He retired as the all-time leader in receptions and was the first NFL player to catch over 100 passes in a season, a feat he achieved in 1984. Monk finished his regular-season career with the Commanders with 888 catches for 12,026 yards and 65 touchdowns.
The retirement of Monk's number joins those of six other esteemed players who have had their numbers retired by the Commanders. These include Darrell Green, Sammy Baugh, Bobby Mitchell, Sonny Jurgensen, and Sean Taylor. Each of these players represents a different era of excellence for the Commanders, with diverse positions ranging from quarterback to safety.
Monk was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008, and his impact on the Commanders' offence was evident during the team's three Super Bowl-winning seasons in the 1980s and early 1990s. In the playoffs, Monk caught 69 passes for 1,062 yards and seven touchdowns with the Commanders.
The Commanders' decision to retire Monk's number further cements his legacy as one of the greatest players in franchise history. His number 81 will no longer be worn by any player, serving as a permanent tribute to his lasting impact on the team and its Super Bowl legacy.
| Player | Number | Position | Years Played | Contribution Highlights | Number Retired Year | |-----------------|--------|-----------------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------|---------------------| | Art Monk | 81 | Wide Receiver | 1980–1993 | Hall of Famer, Super Bowl teams, all-time receptions leader | 2025 | | Darrell Green | 28 | Cornerback | 1983–2002 | Famous for speed and longevity | 2024 | | Sammy Baugh | 33 | QB/DB | 1937–1952 | Franchise pioneer and superstar quarterback | 1953 | | Bobby Mitchell | 49 | RB/WR | 1962–1968 | First African American star, Hall of Fame | 2020 | | Sonny Jurgensen | 9 | Quarterback | 1964–1974 | Hall of Fame QB, passing excellence | 2022 | | Sean Taylor | 21 | Safety | 2004–2007 | Defensive standout, career cut short | 2021 | | Art Monk | 81 | Wide Receiver | 1994–1995 | Finished his career with the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles | N/A |
These seven players remain emblematic of the franchise's most successful eras and reflect diverse positions and eras of excellence. The Commanders honour these players as some of the most iconic figures in their history, representing excellence on offense, defense, and leadership both on and off the field. Their numbers are permanently out of circulation as a tribute to their lasting impact on the team and its Super Bowl legacy.
The retirement of Art Monk's number 81 will not only be worn by future American-football players on the Commanders' roster, as it will join the numbers previously retired for iconic players like Darrell Green, Sammy Baugh, and Sonny Jurgensen. Monk's impressive career in NFL football as a wide receiver, which included his status as the all-time receptions leader, will now be immortalized with the retirement of his number in the NFL, notably the National Football League.
