The Washington Commanders are making sure no one forgets their roots, and this year, that means shining the spotlight on one of their greatest ever: Art Monk. The franchise announced it will officially retire Monk’s iconic No. 81 jersey when the Commanders host the Seahawks on Sunday Night Football this November. The Hall of Fame wideout will join an elite circle of retired legends like Sammy Baugh and Sean Taylor. In a heartfelt gesture, former teammates Doug Williams, Gary Clark, Ricky Sanders, and team brass even made the trip to Monk’s Florida home to deliver the news in person. A testament to how deeply Monk’s legacy still resonates in D.C.
What is Art Monk’s net worth in 2025?
Art Monk might be a legend on the field, but his financial playbook has been just as steady. As of 2025, Celebrity Net Worth estimates Monk’s fortune at $5 million. A fitting figure for a man who helped redefine the wide receiver position in the NFL. Monk’s wealth stems from a career loaded with accolades: three Super Bowl titles with Washington, three Pro Bowl nods, and the historic mark of being the first player to reach 900 career receptions.
Before he was stacking records, Monk was lighting up the gridiron at White Plains High School and later at Syracuse, where he earned first-team All-American honors in 1979. The Redskins took notice, drafting him 18th overall in 1980, and the rest is football lore. Monk later had brief stints with the Jets and Eagles, but his legacy and much of his fortune were sealed in Washington.
Who is Art Monk’s wife? How many children does he have?
Art Monk’s greatness on the field was matched by an unwavering steadiness off of it. Much of which he credits to his wife, Desiree Monk. Desiree has been his partner not just in marriage, but in navigating the intense highs and hidden struggles of an NFL career. Together, they’ve built a family life anchored in faith, discipline, and quiet strength. A reflection of the soft-spoken, methodical receiver that Washington fans remember.
By nature, Monk has always leaned into privacy. While teammates partied, Monk preferred slipping quietly out the locker room door, climbing into his Ford Bronco, and driving home to his suburban Virginia property, where a two-acre fishing pond awaited — along with Desiree and their three kids. “I do two important things in my life,” Monk once said. “I play football, and I spend time with my family. Most everything else is a distraction.” That ethos defined not just his career, but his legacy — a hero revered not for the spotlight he chased, but the one he consciously avoided.
Art Monk isn’t just a football legend to his three children. He’s a model of faith, humility, and quiet strength. Monk and his wife, Desiree raised James Arthur “Art” Monk Jr., Danielle Monk, and Monica Monk in the same deeply principled and family-centered lifestyle that defined his upbringing. But for his eldest, James Jr., the lessons went far beyond the football field.
Monk’s dedication to the next generation wasn’t limited to classrooms. Founded in 1983, the Art Monk Football Camp has shaped the futures of over 14,000 young athletes. Teaching far more than plays. It teaches discipline, character, and work ethic. Monk also channels his leadership in business, serving as the executive and co-founder of Alliant Merchant Services in Northern Virginia. But his clearest legacy shines through the lives he’s touched. Not the trophies he won.
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