Art Monk Focus On Sport/GettyImages

Josh Harris rights another Commanders wrong as team finally honors beloved legend

Originally posted on Riggo's Rag | By Ryan McCafferty | Last updated Jul 15, 2025 5:00 PM ET

The Washington Commanders made a popular move by announcing the return of their traditional jersey color scheme on an alternate basis, set to be worn in three games in 2025.

They've now followed that up with yet another move that honors the franchise's rich history, giving an all-time Washington legend the immortal recognition he deserves.

Three-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Monk, who played 14 seasons in Washington, will have his No. 81 jersey retired during the Commanders' Week 9 game against the Seattle Seahawks on November 2. He was given the news among family, majority partner Josh Harris, and some of his old teammates for good measure.

One number. Forever legendary.

Art Monk's number 81 will officially be retired this season pic.twitter.com/T1bLURR2Yg
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 15, 2025

Art Monk's jersey retirement marks yet another wrong that Josh Harris has righted

The fact that it took this long to hang Monk's number in the rafters feels like a massive oversight.

In addition to being one of the top weapons on three Super Bowl-winning teams, he accumulated upwards of 12,000 receiving yards and 65 touchdowns during his time in the nation's capital. Monk had five seasons in which he eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving, his best campaign coming in 1984 when he had 1,372.

Monk led the NFL in receptions (106) and yards per touch (12.9) that season and was a first-team All-Pro. He additionally qualified for the Pro Bowl in 1985 and 1986, the former occasion after leading the league in receiving yards per game with 81.7. He remained highly productive through 1991, the same campaign in which he earned his third Vince Lombardi trophy.

Despite these incredible accomplishments, Monk's legacy has always gone overlooked.

He had to wait 13 years after his 1995 retirement to finally be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The only recognition Monk received from the team was a place in the Ring of Fame and on the Washington Commanders' greatest players list.

Washington has historically been stingy about retiring numbers. Sammy Baugh (No. 33), Sonny Jurgensen (No. 9), Darrell Green (No. 28), and Bobby Mitchell (No. 49) are four. The late Sean Taylor was finally added to that list in 2021, but there were still several more names worthy of the honor.

Monk is at the top of that list, and now he'll finally get his due.

Harris and company have shown a firm commitment towards restoring pride and dignity to an organization that had been all but stripped of it throughout Dan Snyder's tenure. Honoring arguably the franchise's all-time greatest wide receiver in this fashion is only the latest example.