 Ware with theDenver Broncos in 2014 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 94 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positions | Linebacker,defensive end | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1982-07-31)July 31, 1982 (age 43) Auburn, Alabama, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 258 lb (117 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Auburn | ||||||||||||||
| College | Troy State (2001–2004) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2005: 1st round, 11th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
Playing | |||||||||||||||
Coaching | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
DeMarcus Omar Ware (born July 31, 1982) is an American former professionalfootball player who was alinebacker anddefensive end in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theTroy State Trojans and was selected by theDallas Cowboys with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the2005 NFL draft. After spending nine seasons with the Cowboys, Ware departed in 2013 as the franchise's all-time leader in quarterback sacks with 117. Ware then played three seasons for theDenver Broncos, with whom he wonSuper Bowl 50 over theCarolina Panthers. After the 2016 season with the Broncos, he announced his retirement from the NFL. In 2017, he signed a one-day contract with Dallas to retire as a Cowboy. In 2018, the Broncos hired Ware as a pass-rush consultant.[1] In 2023, Ware was elected to thePro Football Hall of Fame.
Ware was born on July 31, 1982, inAuburn, Alabama. Ware playedfootball,basketball,baseball, and rantrack in high school; he attendedAuburn High School (with defensive endOsi Umenyiora and linebackerMarcus Washington). In football, Ware played both linebacker and wide receiver,[2] and as a senior, he won every game, and was named the team's Most Valuable Wide Receiver and Most Valuable Linebacker, and won Top Leadership honors. He finished his senior season with seven sacks and 55 total tackles (40 solo tackles, 15 assisted tackles).
Intrack & field, Ware was one of the state's top performers in thelong jump (PB of 7.14 meters). He ran the55 metres in 6.74 seconds and had a personal-best jump of 1.94 meters in thehigh jump.[3]
Ware accepted a scholarship fromTroy University, where he was a two-timeAll-Sun Belt Conference selection for theTroy Trojans football team.[4]
Ware became a starter atdefensive end as a sophomore, and was a part of adefensive line that included futureNFL player and former high school teammateOsi Umenyiora.[5] He posted 72 tackles (fifth on the team) and 19.5 tackles for loss. The next year, he registered 62 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, six sacks, 32 quarterback hurries (led the team), five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
As a senior, Ware was a dominant player, receiving the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year,[6] and was a finalist for theHendricks Award, which is given annually to the top defensive end in college football. In 2004, he helped lead his team to the school's first-ever bowl appearance, theSilicon Valley Football Classic. He posted 53 tackles, 10.5 sacks (led the Sun Belt Conference), 19 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles.
Ware finished his college career with 27.5 sacks, 201 tackles, 74 quarterback hurries, ten forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and one interception. His 27.5 sacks rank second in school history for sacks in a career, and his 55.5 tackles for losses rank first in school history.
Ware was named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Decade Team.[7] In 2012, he was inducted into the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame.[8] In 2014, he was inducted into theSenior Bowl Hall of Fame.[9]
A defensive end at Troy, Ware was considered a "tweener DE/OLB prospect" by most scouts.[10] He was supposed to be a perfect fit as a rush linebacker in a3–4 defense prior to the2005 NFL draft and was projected to go early in the second round bySports Illustrated.[11] ProspectMarcus Spears was considered by head coachBill Parcells to be the key to the team's eventual move to a 3–4 defense and wanted to take him with the first selection (11th overall pick). Owner/general managerJerry Jones overruled Parcells and selected Ware instead with the 11th overall pick in the first round.[12] The Cowboys thought he would not be available later in the draft. Spears was selected by the Cowboys with the 20th overall pick.[13]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | Wonderlic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 251 lb (114 kg) | 33+1⁄4 in (0.84 m) | 10 in (0.25 m) | 4.65 s | 1.70 s | 2.75 s | 4.07 s | 6.83 s | 38.5 in (0.98 m) | 10 ft 2 in (3.10 m) | 27 reps | 20 |
| All values fromNFL Combine.[14][15][16][17] | ||||||||||||
Ware also was credited with a 430-pound bench press, a 570-pound squat, and a 360-pound power clean.[18]
In his NFL debut against theSan Diego Chargers, Ware posted three tackles, one for a loss, and one quarterback pressure. The Cowboys won the game 28–24.[19] In a game againstSan Francisco in Week 3, he recorded his firstsack bringing downTim Rattay.[20] Ware earned the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month award for October after recording 16 tackles, three sacks, and seven quarterback pressures to help Dallas start the season with a 3–2 record. In Week 16, Ware recorded three sacks and three forced fumbles in a match against theCarolina Panthers. For that performance, Ware was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week and the Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week.[21][22] He tied the Cowboys record for most sacks in a single game, held byRandy White. He finished with 58 total tackles, 14 tackles for losses and three forced fumbles.[23] He tiedGreg Ellis for a team-best eight sacks and joinedJimmie Jones as the only rookies to ever lead or tie for the Dallas Cowboys' team lead in sacks.
In 2006, Ware ended the regular season with a team-high 11.5 sacks, the most ever by a Cowboys linebacker.[24] This total brokeAnthony Dickerson's record of 10.5 from1983. He added 73 tackles, a fumble recovery, and an interception, both returned for a touchdown.[25] Ware was named a starter on the NFCPro Bowl team.[26] In Week 6 against division rivalEagles, Ware had a memorable moment with his 69-yard fumble return for his first career NFL touchdown.[27] He recorded his first career interception againstMichael Vick in a game against theAtlanta Falcons and returned it for a 41-yard touchdown.[28] Ware finished tied for ninth in the league in total sacks andShawne Merriman led the league with 17 sacks.[29]
Ware broke out with his 2007 season, leading new Cowboys' head coachWade Phillips to call him the best outside linebacker in the league. Ware became the second Cowboy ever to record at least 14 sacks in a season, sinceJim Jeffcoat in1986. Ware led the team with 27 quarterback pressures, eight tackles for losses, and four forced fumbles while finishing with 80 tackles.[30][31] Ware made his second straightPro Bowl along with 12 other teammates.[32] He was selected to theAll-Pro team for the second straight year along with teammates,Terrell Owens andJason Witten.[33] Ware finished tied for third in the league behindPatrick Kerney (14.5 sacks) andJared Allen (15.5 sacks).[34]
In the 2008 matchup against theSt. Louis Rams, Ware tied the NFL record of formerDenver Broncos linebackerSimon Fletcher for recording a sack in ten straight games.[35] He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his Week 15 game against theNew York Giants, where he had three sacks.[36][37] Ware was selected to his third consecutivePro Bowl after pacing the league, establishing an official club record and tyingDerrick Thomas for sixth in league history with 20 sacks.[38][39] Ware ended the 2008 season with 84 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, six forced fumbles, and two passes defended.[40] Ware was namedNFC Defensive Player of the Year by Kansas City Committee as well asNFL Alumni Pass Rusher of the Year.[citation needed] Ware finished the 2008 season as the league leader in sacks for the first time in his career.[41] He finished second in AP Defensive Player of the Year voting.[42] Ware became the first recipient of the professionalButkus Award.[43]
In 2009, Ware was listed as the best 3-4 outside linebacker bySporting News[44] In October, Ware signed a six-year, $78 million contract, putting him among the top-five highest paid defenders in the NFL. Two months later, Ware suffered a neck injury and was taken off the field by a cart while playing against theSan Diego Chargers. The injury was diagnosed later as a sprained neck. He was taken to the hospital for further tests, but was released the next day.[45] He returned to play the next week, against the then-undefeatedNew Orleans Saints, and recorded two sack-fumbles, including the one that ended the Saints' chances at a comeback and an undefeated season.[46] For this performance, he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[47] He made his fourth consecutive appearance in thePro Bowl as a starter in 2009, after leading the Cowboys with 11.0 sacks, a career-high 45 pressures, and five forced fumbles.[48][49][50] He was named to the FirstAll-Pro team in recognition of his 2009 season.[51]
Ware earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his Week 3 game against theHouston Texans, where he had three sacks in the 27–13 victory.[52][53] Ware recorded 15.5 sacks and led the NFL in that category for the second time in three seasons.[54] He made a fifth straightPro Bowl.[55] By leading the NFL in sacks for the second time in his career, Ware tied the record for most seasons leading the league in sacks with two. He tiedMark Gastineau, 1983–84;Reggie White, 1987–88;Kevin Greene, 1994, 1996;Michael Strahan, 2001, 2003; andJared Allen, 2007, 2011. He was ranked 12th by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2011.[56]
In 2011, Ware had 19.5 sacks, 47 tackles, two pass deflections, and two forced fumbles.[57] On October 30, Ware recorded a career-high four sacks against thePhiladelphia Eagles in a 34–7 loss.[58] Ware finished second in the NFL in total sacks for the 2011 season behindJared Allen who posted 22.0 sacks.[59] Ware was selected to the2012 Pro Bowl as a starter and voted to the All-Pro team again.[60][61] He was ranked sixth by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2012.[62]
In the season opener against the defendingSuper Bowl championNew York Giants atMetLife Stadium, Ware recorded two sacks againstEli Manning to reach 101.5 sacks for his career.[63] With these two sacks Ware became the second fastest player (113 games) to reach 100 sacks behindReggie White (96 games).[64] At the end of the 2012 season, Ware finished with 11.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and was selected to his seventhPro Bowl and was named to the SecondAll-Pro team.[65] Ware was unable to play in thePro Bowl after his off-season shoulder surgery.[66] He endured a difficult season having to deal with a hamstring he tore intraining camp, a fractured right wrist and losing mobility on his right arm in the last three games, because of a hyperextended elbow and a torn labrum that forced him to use an elbow and shoulder harness.[67] He was ranked 12th by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2013.[68]
Due to the Cowboys switch to the 4-3 from the 3–4, under new defensive coordinatorMonte Kiffin, DeMarcus moved to defensive end, along withAnthony Spencer, who started his NFL career opposite Ware at left side linebacker, but was a defensive end at college.[69] On the Cowboys's first play of the 2013 regular season, Ware recorded an interception off ofEli Manning in the 36–31 victory over theNew York Giants.[70] In Week 3 against theSt. Louis Rams, he became the Cowboys' all-time sack leader, surpassingHarvey Martin's 30-year-old record of 114.[71] He was ranked 56th by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2014.[72]
After nine seasons with the Cowboys, Ware was released on March 11, 2014, making him a free agent for the first time in his career.[73]
On March 12, 2014, one day following his release from the Cowboys, Ware signed a three-year, $30 million contract with theDenver Broncos. The deal included $20 million in guaranteed money.[74] Ware started at right outside linebacker for the team. He played 16 games, of which he started 15, finishing the season with 41 tackles, 10 sacks, one interception, one pass defensed, and two forced fumbles.[75] He receivedPro Bowl honors in his first season with the Broncos.[76] He was ranked 87th by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2015.[77]
For the 2015 season, Ware was reunited with former head coachWade Phillips as his defensive coordinator.[78] The Broncos finished the season with the #1 defense and a 12–4 record.[79][80] Ware posted 25 tackles and 7.5 sacks while playing in 11 of the regular season games, missing five games due to injury.[81] In September, he earned AFC Defensive Player of the Month honors.[82]
In theDivisional Round against thePittsburgh Steelers, Ware had three tackles, recovered a crucial fumble near the end of the game, and recorded the game winning sack to help the Broncos win 23–16.[83] Ware advanced to the Conference Championship for the first time in his career. In theAFC Championship game against theNew England Patriots, Ware and the defense hit quarterbackTom Brady 27 times and placed pressure on him the entire game. The Broncos held on to win the game by a score of 20–18.[84] On February 7, 2016, Ware was part of the Broncos team that wonSuper Bowl 50. In the game, the Broncos defeated theCarolina Panthers by a score of 24–10.[85] Ware recorded five tackles and two sacks in the Super Bowl.[86] He was ranked 36th by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2016.[87]
In a Week 1 Super Bowl 50 rematch against theCarolina Panthers, Ware recorded 1.5 sacks and helped the Broncos beat the Panthers by a score of 21–20.[88] In Week 2 against theColts, Ware left the game with an apparent arm injury as he was trying to bring down quarterbackAndrew Luck. It was eventually revealed that there was an ulna fracture near the elbow. The injury required surgery with 4–5 weeks to recover.[89] Ware went on to play 10 games recording four sacks before having season-ending back surgery on December 28, 2016.[90][91]
On March 13, 2017, Ware announced his retirement from the NFL after 12 seasons and 138.5 sacks, through hisTwitter account.[92][93]
On April 24, 2017, about a month after announcing his retirement from the NFL, Ware signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Dallas Cowboys, the team that drafted him.[94]
Ware was tied for the record of most seasons leading the league in sacks with two (2008 and 2010). Ware is tied withMark Gastineau, 1983–84;Reggie White, 1987–88;Kevin Greene, 1994, 1996;Michael Strahan, 2001, 2003;Jared Allen, 2007, 2011; andJ. J. Watt, 2012, 2015. However, the record was surpassed byT. J. Watt, 2020, 2021, 2023.
As of the end of the 2012 season, Ware recorded 10+ sacks in seven straight seasons. Only two other players in NFL history have more consecutive seasons with 10+ sacks:Reggie White (9),John Randle (8)[95]
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports Senior NFL Columnist, ranked Ware as the 3rd best player in the NFL (behindAaron Rodgers andTom Brady) going into the 2012 season and as the best defensive player in the NFL.[96] In 2012, NFL.com analystDaniel Jeremiah ranked Ware as the best edge pass rusher in the league and a "top-five player in the NFL, regardless of position".[97] TheNFL Top 100 for2012 ranked Ware as the best rusher, best linebacker, 2nd overall defensive player behind defensive backDarrelle Revis (number 5 overall) and the 6th overall player in the NFL.
Ware is the second fastest player ever to reach 100 sacks.[98]
Ware recorded 28 multiple-sack games and 32 forced fumbles as a member of the Dallas Cowboys, both most in club history.[99]
Ware has ranked in the top three in total sacks league-wide in 4 out of 5 seasons (3rd place in 2007, 1st place in 2008, 7th place in 2009, 1st place in 2010, and 2nd place in 2011).
On April 19, 2016, the governor of Alabama declared April 19 "DeMarcus Ware Day" in his honor.[100]
On February 9, 2023, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced that Ware would be inducted in its 2023 class.[101]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won theSuper Bowl | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | Sfty | Int | Yds | Lng | TD | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |||
| 2005 | DAL | 16 | 16 | 58 | 47 | 11 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2006 | DAL | 16 | 16 | 71 | 57 | 14 | 11.5 | 0 | 1 | 41 | 41 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 69 | 1 | |
| 2007 | DAL | 16 | 16 | 84 | 60 | 24 | 14.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2008 | DAL | 16 | 16 | 84 | 69 | 15 | 20.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2009 | DAL | 16 | 15 | 57 | 45 | 12 | 11.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2010 | DAL | 16 | 16 | 66 | 56 | 10 | 15.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 1 | |
| 2011 | DAL | 16 | 16 | 58 | 47 | 11 | 19.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012 | DAL | 16 | 16 | 56 | 33 | 23 | 11.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2013 | DAL | 13 | 13 | 40 | 28 | 12 | 6.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014 | DEN | 16 | 15 | 40 | 33 | 7 | 10.0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015 | DEN | 11 | 10 | 25 | 17 | 8 | 7.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016 | DEN | 10 | 8 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Career | 178 | 173 | 654 | 501 | 153 | 138.5 | 0 | 3 | 44 | 41 | 1 | 25 | 35 | 8 | 91 | 2 | ||
On September 12, 2018, Ware was announced as one of the celebrities who would compete onseason 27 ofDancing with the Stars. His professional partner wasLindsay Arnold.[102] Ware and Arnold were eliminated on the seventh week of competition, finishing in joint-seventh place alongsideJohn Schneider and his professional partnerEmma Slater.[103]
In 2024, Ware competed inseason eleven ofThe Masked Singer as "Koala". He was eliminated on "Transformers Night" alongsideColton Underwood as "Lovebird".[104]
Ware is aChristian. He has said, “Jesus Christ has always been the center of who I am. If you’re not a part of something, how do you know your purpose? God is my purpose and I place all my hope and trust in who He is.”[105]
In March 2005, Ware married his high school sweetheart, Taniqua Smith, a formerAir Force member and the daughter of a police officer. After three difficult pregnancies, including the birth and death of a son, Omar, in 2006, they adopted their daughter, Marley.[106] In 2010, they had a son, DeMarcus Ware II. Ware and Smith divorced in 2012.[107] In 2021, he married Angela Ware.[108] They had a son named Michael John Ware in 2021.[109]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
