DeMarcus Ware made quarterbacks nervous for 12 years. Born July 31, 1982, in Auburn, Alabama, he rose from small-town roots to become football’s most feared pass rusher. With 138.5 career sacks, nine Pro Bowls, and a Super Bowl ring, Ware changed the NFL before retiring in 2016.
His path from Troy University to the Pro Football Hall of Fame shows what happens when raw talent meets hard work. A player who helped change how edge defenders play today.
Who Is DeMarcus Ware?
DeMarcus Ware played two distinct roles in the NFL. With Dallas, he was a 3-4 outside linebacker. In Denver, he switched to a 4-3 defensive end. Both positions shared one mission: hunt quarterbacks and stop runs.
Edge defenders work as football’s predators. They line up outside the defensive front, using a blend of speed, power, and smarts to slip past blockers. When crowds roar after a sack, they’re cheering for the kind of play Ware delivered routinely.
At 6’4″ and 258 pounds, Ware brought a rare mix of strength and quickness. He could power through blockers or blur past them with speed. This balance of skills made him nearly impossible to block consistently.
Early Life
DeMarcus grew up in Auburn, Alabama, where football runs through the town’s veins. Big college programs mostly overlooked him. He landed at Troy University, a smaller school that gave him room to develop.
At Troy, Ware’s talent began to show. He collected 27.5 sacks in college and earned the nickname “The Sack Master.” His senior year, he topped the Sun Belt Conference in sacks and made the All-Sun Belt team twice.
NFL scouts finally noticed during his last college season. At the NFL Combine, Ware’s athletic tests turned heads. His speed and strength helped him get picked early from an unknown prospect to a first-round talent.
His First Year
Ware’s journey to the NFL came with three big moments that shaped his early career:
- The Dallas Cowboys picked him 11th overall in the 2005 NFL Draft, making him the first Troy player ever taken in the first round.
- Ware wasted no time making an impact, recording his first NFL sack in Week 1 against the San Diego Chargers.
- By season’s end, he led the Cowboys with 10.5 sacks as a rookie—a sign of what was coming.
Cowboys coach Bill Parcells saw something special in Ware, even when some questioned picking a player from a small school so high in the draft. Parcells told reporters: “This young man has the tools to be great.” Time would prove Parcells right.
NFL Career Highlights
Ware’s NFL career features five achievements that showcase his dominance:
- His 2007 explosion for 20 sacks tied the Cowboys’ record and led the NFL, cementing his elite status.
- Nine straight Pro Bowls (2006-2014) showed rare consistency at a position where few players maintain excellence.
- Four First-team All-Pro selections (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011) marked him as the best at his position.
- Joining Denver in 2014 led to Super Bowl 50 victory, giving him the championship that had eluded him in Dallas.
- His 138.5 career sacks placed him in the NFL’s all-time top 10 and made him the Cowboys’ sack leader.
Ware achieved all this while battling constant pain. Back problems, elbow injuries, and various other hurts rarely kept him off the field. “You don’t get days off in this league,” he’d say whenever asked about playing through injury.
#94 Jersey Number
Ware wore #94 throughout his career. First with Dallas (2005-2013), then with Denver (2014-2016), that number became Quarterbacks hated seeing #94.
For nine seasons in Dallas, Ware led the defense. Cowboys fans knew #94 would show up when games mattered most. After Dallas released him in a 2014 salary cap decision, Denver immediately scooped up the veteran.
The Broncos paired Ware with rising star Von Miller, creating a devastating pass-rush combo. Though his Denver stint lasted just three years, Ware capped it with a championship.
Ware’s numbers tell the tale of his greatness. His 138.5 career sacks rank among NFL legends, while 657 solo tackles prove he wasn’t merely a sack specialist.
In 12 seasons, he forced 35 fumbles—game-changing plays that flipped momentum. He recovered 25 loose balls and scored three defensive touchdowns. His 229 quarterback hits, though not in most record books, show how he constantly disrupted offenses.
Most remarkable was Ware’s consistency. For eight straight seasons (2006-2013), he tallied at least 10 sacks annually—a streak few in NFL history have matched.
Come playoff time, Ware delivered 7.5 sacks in 10 games. His three-sack masterpiece in the 2015 AFC Championship helped punch Denver’s ticket to Super Bowl 50.
Why Everyone Called Him “Werewolf”
“Werewolf” became DeMarcus Ware’s nickname—a clever play on his name that captured how he hunted quarterbacks. The tag caught on after an announcer used it during a multi-sack game against Philadelphia.
Respect for Ware extended far beyond his sack totals. Coaches admired his preparation. Teammates valued his leadership and mentoring. Even opponents praised his sportsmanship.
Jason Witten, his longtime Cowboys teammate, put it simply: “DeMarcus isn’t just a great player—he’s what every coach wants their players to be as professionals.”
While many pass rushers talked trash, Ware let his play do the talking. He’d often help opponents up after sacks instead of celebrating over them. This class earned him the NFL’s Bart Starr Award in 2008 for character and leadership.
Personal Life
DeMarcus Ware married Taniqua Smith in 2012. Their family journey includes both heartache and happiness. After enduring multiple miscarriages, they adopted two daughters who brought fresh joy to their lives.
Though retired, Ware still calls Dallas home. He stays connected to communities in Texas and Colorado, where fans regularly approach him for autographs and football chat.
“Who is DeMarcus Ware’s wife?” ranks among common online searches about him. Taniqua, a former Air Force member, mostly avoids the spotlight while supporting his various things he’s done after football.
Ask Ware about his proudest achievement, and fatherhood tops his list—football accomplishments come second. He credits his family background for shaping his work ethic and character.
Super Bowl Win and Hall of Fame
Ware’s biggest team achievement came in February 2016. After dominating the playoffs with Denver, he helped beat Carolina in Super Bowl 50. After 11 seasons, he finally claimed his championship ring.
In 2023, football bestowed its highest personal honor on Ware: Hall of Fame induction. His first-ballot selection simply confirmed what everyone already knew about his greatness.
His trophy case includes other prestigious recognitions:
- Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor
- NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
- NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
- Troy University Hall of Fame
During his Canton induction speech, Ware thanked everyone from high school coaches to NFL teammates. He reserved special gratitude for Dallas and Denver fans: “You pushed me to be better every Sunday.”
What’s He Doing Now?
Since retiring in 2017, Ware has stayed busy:
- He works as a CBS Sports Network analyst, sharing defensive insights with a natural knack for explaining football’s complexities.
- Denver brought him back as a pass-rush consultant during training camps to teach young defenders the finer points of quarterback hunting.
- His annual Football ProCamp helps kids learn directly from the master. Each summer, hundreds of young players soak up his wisdom.
- He launched 3Volt Fitness in Dallas, applying the training methods that kept him dominant throughout his career.
Ware quietly supports various charities without publicity. Former teammates often mention his behind-the-scenes generosity toward children’s and veterans’ causes.
True to form, he tackles retirement with the same focus he showed in football. “I don’t believe in ‘retiring’ from life,” he once said. “I’m just tackling new challenges now.”
Conclusion
DeMarcus Ware’s influence lives on in today’s NFL. Stars like Von Miller, Khalil Mack, and Micah Parsons openly admit to studying their techniques. Watch any Sunday game and you’ll see edge rushers using moves Ware mastered.
His Cowboys records for sacks (117) and forced fumbles (32) still stand. Dallas fans judge every new pass rusher against the bar that Ware set during his nine seasons wearing the star.
Denver fans remember Ware as the final piece of their championship puzzle. His leadership transformed the Broncos’ defense into the dominant force that carried them to Super Bowl glory.
What made Ware truly special was his game-changing ability. Offensive coordinators feared him so much they changed entire game plans, often assigning multiple blockers just to slow him down.
New football fans discovering the game through highlight videos see Ware’s unique blend of speed, power, and technique—a blueprint defenders still try to copy today.
From overlooked recruit to football immortality, Ware’s story proves greatness can emerge from anywhere. The quiet kid from Auburn became a legend whose impact will echo through football for generations.
