Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware has been announced as one of the 15 finalists for the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame class of inductees.
This is the first year of eligibility for Ware under the current rules. The final Hall of Fame class will be announced on February 12 as part of the ceremonies leading up to Super Bowl LVI the following day.
Ware was selected in the first round – 11th overall – of the 2005 draft by Dallas. He was drafted as a defensive end but transitioned into the outside linebacker position. Dallas head coach Bill Parcells had wanted to draft a different player but was overruled by team owner Jerry Jones.
Ware played for the Cowboys from 2005 to 2013, becoming the franchise leader in sacks along the way. He recorded a total of 117 sacks in 141 games and set franchise records in forced fumbles, tackles for loss, and QB hits. Ware became one of the most feared defensive players of all time while a member of the Cowboys but struggled to find success in the postseason.
As a member of the Cowboys, Ware was part of the 2006 and 2007 teams that lost in their first playoff games. The Cowboys’ only postseason victory with Ware at linebacker came in 2009 with a Wild Card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles before losing to the Minnesota Vikings in the Divisional Round.
In his rookie season, Ware accumulated a total of eight sacks, a franchise rookie record that was only broken this season by linebacker Micah Parsons who currently sits at 13 with one game left to be played in the regular season.
Ware led the NFL in sacks in two seasons, becoming one of only six players to lead the NFL in two seasons. During the 2008 season, Ware recorded a sack in ten straight games, tying an NFL record. He fell one-half sack short of setting an NFL record in 2011 for posting multiple seasons with 20 or more sacks.
In nine seasons with Dallas, Ware was selected to the Pro Bowl seven times. He received four first-team All-Pro nods and three second-team designations over the course of his career. He was awarded the Butkus Award twice while playing for Dallas, including the first year the award was given to professional football players (2008).
Ware became a free agent following the 2013 season and immediately signed with the Denver Broncos. He played for the Broncos for three seasons and was a member of the team that won Super Bowl 50, the first time since Super Bowl IV that roman numerals were not used.
Ware had five tackles and two sacks in the game as Peyton Manning and the Broncos defeated Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. It would be the only Super Bowl appearance for Ware.
Following an injury-riddled 2016 season that ended with Ware requiring back surgery, the linebacker announced his retirement from the NFL. He signed a one-day contract with the Dallas Cowboys to allow him to retire as a member of the team that drafted him.
He finished his career totaling 138.5 sacks, 654 tackles, three interceptions, and two touchdowns.