Monk Jersey Retirement Moved to 2026 Season
11/13/2025 3:00:00 PM | Football
Syracuse University Athletics and Art Monk have postponed his jersey retirement ceremony to the 2026 season due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict. The game and date of the ceremony will be determined after Syracuse's 2026 football schedule is announced.
"It's important that we celebrate Art Monk in the way he deserves and that he is able to be present for," said Director of Athletics John Wildhack. "We look forward to seeing him return to campus in 2026 to see his jersey take its rightful place in the JMA Wireless Dome."
"I'm incredibly honored that Syracuse University will be retiring my jersey," Monk said. "I'm looking forward to being able to celebrate this special moment with the Orange community in 2026."
Monk, one of the greatest wide receivers in football history, played at Syracuse from 1976-79 and is still the only player in program history to lead the team in receptions and receiving yards for three straight seasons (1977-79). He left Syracuse ranked second in school history in all-purpose yards, trailing only fellow Hall of Famer Floyd Little at the time. His 3,899 yards still rank seventh in school history. He tallied over 100 career receptions, 1,644 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, while also amassing 1,174 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground in his 'Cuse career.
Monk went on to be selected 18th overall by the now Washington Commanders in the 1980 NFL Draft. He'd spend 14 of his 16 seasons in the NFL with the franchise, where he became a three-time Super Bowl Champion (XVII, XXII, XXVI), two-time First Team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl selection.
In 2008, Monk was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, receiving the longest standing ovation in Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony history, according to NFL Films. Four years later, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He is one of five Syracuse players that have been inducted into both.
Monk (45) will be the eighth player in the more than 130-year history of Syracuse football to have his jersey retired, joining: Larry Csonka (39), Dwight Freeney (54), Tim Green (72), John Mackey (88), Donovan McNabb (5), Don McPherson (9) and Joe Morris (47). The number 44, worn by 25 players, including legendary running backs Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little, is also hung in the Dome rafters and Brown, Davis and Little are all members of Syracuse's Ring of Honor.
"It's important that we celebrate Art Monk in the way he deserves and that he is able to be present for," said Director of Athletics John Wildhack. "We look forward to seeing him return to campus in 2026 to see his jersey take its rightful place in the JMA Wireless Dome."
"I'm incredibly honored that Syracuse University will be retiring my jersey," Monk said. "I'm looking forward to being able to celebrate this special moment with the Orange community in 2026."
Monk, one of the greatest wide receivers in football history, played at Syracuse from 1976-79 and is still the only player in program history to lead the team in receptions and receiving yards for three straight seasons (1977-79). He left Syracuse ranked second in school history in all-purpose yards, trailing only fellow Hall of Famer Floyd Little at the time. His 3,899 yards still rank seventh in school history. He tallied over 100 career receptions, 1,644 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, while also amassing 1,174 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground in his 'Cuse career.
Monk went on to be selected 18th overall by the now Washington Commanders in the 1980 NFL Draft. He'd spend 14 of his 16 seasons in the NFL with the franchise, where he became a three-time Super Bowl Champion (XVII, XXII, XXVI), two-time First Team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl selection.
In 2008, Monk was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, receiving the longest standing ovation in Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony history, according to NFL Films. Four years later, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He is one of five Syracuse players that have been inducted into both.
Monk (45) will be the eighth player in the more than 130-year history of Syracuse football to have his jersey retired, joining: Larry Csonka (39), Dwight Freeney (54), Tim Green (72), John Mackey (88), Donovan McNabb (5), Don McPherson (9) and Joe Morris (47). The number 44, worn by 25 players, including legendary running backs Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little, is also hung in the Dome rafters and Brown, Davis and Little are all members of Syracuse's Ring of Honor.
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