Demarcus Ware didn't play his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys but that is where he ends it at. Despite leaving Dallas and winning his only Super Bowl ring as a member of the Denver Broncos, Ware chose to return to Dallas to retire with the Cowboys. On Monday, Ware made his retirement official with a ceremonial contract with the Dallas Cowboys.
DeMarcus Ware's career with the Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys chose DeMarcus Ware with their first round draft pick in 2005 and he went on to anchor the defense for nine seasons with the Cowboys.
Over that time, Ware recorded 117 sacks, the most in Cowboys history, eclipsing even the unofficial sack leader Harvey Martin, who had 114 sacks although only 10 are on record since the NFL didn't record sack stats until 1982. DeMarcus also was named to seven straight Pro Bowl appearances from 2006-2012 and also led the NFL in sacks, hitting 20 in 2008. In 2014, the Dallas Cowboys needed to cut costs to get under the salary cap and cut him, watching DeMarcus sign a huge contract with the Denver Broncos, a three-year deal worth $30 million.
DeMarcus Ware and the Denver Broncos
DeMarcus Ware went to the Denver Broncos and enjoyed some success, although it was also full of injuries. In his first year with Denver, Ware had 10 sacks and was part of leading the Broncos defense to the top of the NFL.
The next season, Ware only played in 11 regular season games, but made it to the Super Bowl, winning his first ever Super Bowl ring. Ware had 7.5 sacks in the regular season and added 3.5 in the postseason. After a 2016 season that saw him miss six games due to injury, Ware decided to retire rather than continue taking a beating.
Combined with his numbers with the Dallas Cowboys, Ware retires with 138.5 total career sacks, eighth in NFL history.
DeMarcus Ware on retiring as a Cowboy
DeMarcus Ware won a Super Bowl ring with the Denver Broncos but he chose to retire with the Dallas Cowboys. Jason Garrett pointed out that Ware should be a first ballot NFL Hall of Fame inductee, as all six retired NFL players with more sacks than Ware are all in the Hall of Fame.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones called Ware a "perfect player." When speaking about his choice to retire as a member of the Cowboys, Ware said that it was an opportunity of a lifetime and playing for "America's Team" and being a part of the history of "The Star" with the Cowboys organization means something important to him.
