Art Monk

High school

White Plains High School

College

Syracuse University

Pro team(s)

Washington Redskins, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles

Hall of Fame

⭐ Pro Football Hall of Fame

James Arthur Monk was born on December 5, 1957, in White Plains, New York (Westchester County). He attended White Plains High School and went on to Syracuse University — the same program that produced Jim Brown — where he was a standout wide receiver. The Washington Redskins selected him in the first round of the 1980 NFL Draft, and Monk went on to a 14-year career in Washington that made him one of the most respected wide receivers in the history of professional football. He was not a flashy receiver — there was nothing acrobatic or spectacular in his work — but Monk was defined by absolute reliability: he ran precise routes, caught everything thrown near him, and blocked downfield with the dedication of a lineman. He was a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Redskins (XVII, XXII, XXVI) and one of the key components of the Joe Gibbs dynasty in Washington. Monk set the NFL record for career receptions (940) when he retired in 1995 — a record he held until Jerry Rice surpassed it. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the most celebrated players in Redskins history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008 after being passed over several times in a slight that many considered unjust. Born and raised in White Plains, New York.