Free agent defensive end DeMarcus Ware surprised many today when he announced his retirement. Ware has spent the past three seasons as a member of the Denver Broncos where he helped guide the defense to a number one ranking, and a Super Bowl championship.
It’s time …. pic.twitter.com/qlXpcNn12b
— D-Ware (@DeMarcusWare) March 13, 2017
DeMarcus Ware Announces Retirement
Ware, 34, had a down year in 2016, finishing the season with a career-low 15 tackles and four sacks, while missing six games due to a bulging disc in his back. An MRI in March indicated that everything was fine following the season-ending surgery to repair the bulging disc. When fully healthy, Ware was a force on the field, and his 138.5 career sacks (8th All-Time) are a testament to that.
In 2014, the nine-time Pro Bowler signed a three-year, $30 million deal ($20 million guaranteed) with the Denver Broncos after being released by the Dallas Cowboys. Ware, a four-time All-Pro, would not disappoint, finishing his first season in Denver with 41 tackles, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles, while earning one of his nine Pro Bowl selections.
Following his first season in Denver, Ware would be re-united with his former head coach from Dallas, Wade Phillips, who would take over defensive coordinator duties for the Broncos. Under Phillips’ guidance, the Broncos would finish the 2015 season with a 12-4 record and the number one ranked defense, which was led by Von Miller and Ware. Ware would miss five games that season due to injury, but was still able to finish the regular season with 25 tackles and 7.5 sacks, while helping the Broncos reach Super Bowl 50. Ware contributed five tackles and two sacks in Denver’s 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, and earned his first Super Bowl ring, in the process.
Prior to signing with Denver, Ware spent his first nine seasons with the Cowboys. Dallas drafted the two-time NFL sack leader with the eleventh overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft out of Troy University. Ware would rack up 117 sacks over nine seasons with Dallas, as well as recording 442 tackles. For his career, Ware has 505 tackles, 138.5 sacks and 35 forced fumbles.
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