One of the best pass-rushers of his era has decided to call it quits on his NFL career. Former Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos star DeMarcus Ware announced his retirement on Monday.
It's time .... pic.twitter.com/qlXpcNn12b
— D-Ware (@DeMarcusWare) March 13, 2017
Ware spent the first nine years of his career in Dallas before moving to Denver, where he finally became a Super Bowl champion. He retires with 138.5 sacks, eighth-most in NFL history and more than any other player since he entered the league in 2005. Just how prolific a sack artist was he? Well ...
Only Reggie White (.85) and Lawrence Taylor (.79) averaged more sacks per game than DeMarcus Ware (.78).@NFLResearch
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) March 13, 2017
It had been rumored in recent weeks that Ware, who turns 35 this summer, might actually return to the Cowboys, who desperately need pass-rush help. Instead, he‘ll hang up his spikes for good. Both of his former teams acknowledged his excellence on Twitter in the wake of the announcement.
See you in Canton. https://t.co/htfhDI76GR
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) March 13, 2017
#ThankYouDWare
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) March 13, 2017
📰 » https://t.co/OpuMy5Jlyq pic.twitter.com/9GuqMfQajr
Wishing all the best to #DallasCowboys franchise sack leader as he retires from the @NFL! #CowboyForLife https://t.co/PeZSPZOTsh
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) March 13, 2017
One of his former teammates, cornerback Chris Harris, shared his admiration for Ware as well.
#Broncos CB Chris Harris to me on DeMarcus Ware retiring: "One of the best to do it. He was a great leader, motivator & teacher of the game"
— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 13, 2017
One of the best defensive players of his time, Ware presumably has a gold jacket and a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame waiting for him a few years down the line.
