By Jordan Long
Linebacker DeMarcus Ware decided to retire on Monday after 12 seasons in the NFL. According to USAtoday.com, Ware said, “After a lot of thought and prayer, I’ve decided to accept the unknown and retire. Tempting opportunities still present themselves for me to play, and I feel better than I have in years. However, long term health and quality of life outweigh the spark and passion to play that I once had.” The Broncos and the Cowboys wanted to sign him for this upcoming year but Ware determined it was his time to leave the game of football.
Ware started his career with the Dallas Cowboys. He was selected 11th overall by the Cowboys in the 2005 NFL Draft. In his first year, Ware recorded 8 sacks and 47 tackles. 2009 was his best year with 20 sacks. Ware recorded 7 seasons with 10 or more sacks while in a Cowboys uniform.
On March 11th, 2014 the Cowboys were forced to release Ware. He didn’t want to take a pay cut from his $12.25 million salary. Ware became a free agent for the first time in his career. He wasn’t a free agent for long as the Denver Broncos signed him to a three-year $30 million contract. When they agreed to a deal with Ware, this signaled the Broncos were serious about upgrading the defense to win the Super Bowl.
In his first year as a Bronco, Ware sacked the quarterback 10 times and added 40 tackles. Denver went 12-4 but fell to the Indianapolis Colts in the Divisional round 24-13. In the playoff loss Ware collected 4 tackles but didn’t have a quarterback sack.
2015 Ware missed 5 games due to a back injury. When Ware was in the lineup he was still productive with 25 tackles and 7.5 sacks. The Broncos went on and won Super Bowl 50 that season. The Broncos might not have gone that far if it wasn’t for the play of Ware. In the playoffs he had 3.5 sacks and 10 tackles.
Last year was a season to forget for Ware. He suited up in a career low 10 games. Ware broke his arm in week 2 trying to sack Colts’ quarterback Andrew Luck in the third quarter. That injury kept him out of 5 games. Ware was shut down for the last game of the year against the Oakland Raiders due to his back.
Ware didn’t have anything left to prove in the game. He leaves the NFL with 503 tackles and 138.5 sacks. Ware was voted to go to the Pro Bowl 9 times. He was on the First Team All-Pro 4 times and was on the Second Team All-Pro 3 times. Ware even won a Super Bowl ring.
Ware leaves the NFL as one of the best linebackers to ever play. Opposing quarterbacks needed to know where he was on the field. He could change field position with a sack. Ware’s last accomplishment is to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His body of work shows he is a Hall Of Famer. Hopefully that will occur in 2022.
How will you remember DeMarcus Ware?
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