Art Monk’s jersey retirement postponed to 2026 season
Syracuse Athletics announced that Art Monk’s scheduled jersey retirement ceremony for Nov. 29 has been postponed to the 2026 season. Leonardo Eriman | Photo Editor
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Art Monk’s jersey retirement scheduled for Nov. 29 during Syracuse’s home matchup against Boston College has been postponed to the 2026 season due to “unforeseen scheduling conflicts,” SU Athletics announced in a Thursday statement.
The game and date for Monk’s ceremony will be revealed after the Orange’s 2026 schedule is released.
“I’m incredibly honored that Syracuse University will be retiring my jersey,” Monk said in the statement. “I’m looking forward to being able to celebrate this special moment with the Orange community in 2026.”
Syracuse football, which sits at a 3-7 record this year, is slated to face a 1-9 BC squad on the day Monk’s ceremony was originally planned for.
“It’s important that we celebrate Art Monk in the way he deserves and that he is able to be present for,” SU Director of Athletics John Wildhack said in the statement. “We look forward to seeing him return to campus in 2026 to see his jersey take its rightful place in the JMA Wireless Dome.”
Monk is considered to be one of the greatest wide receivers in football history. He shined at Syracuse from 1976-79 and still is the only wideout in program history to lead the team in both receptions and receiving yards for three consecutive seasons — which he did from 1977-79.
The then-Washington Redskins selected Monk in the first round of the 1980 NFL Draft. A three-time Super Bowl champion, two-time First-Team All-Pro selection and 2008 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Monk became synonymous with Washington, D.C., football during his illustrious NFL career. His 12,721 receiving yards still rank 24th in league history.
Monk’s No. 81 jersey was retired by Washington’s franchise on Nov. 2. However, Syracuse fans will have to wait a little longer to see Monk’s No. 45 jersey ascend into the JMA Wireless Dome rafters.
