Class of 2023: DeMarcus Ware — No cape needed for this Superman
Enshrinement
Published on : 8/5/2023
By Barry Wilner
Special to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
A teammate once mentioned that the Dallas Cowboys referred to DeMARCUS WARE as Superman. Not a bad choice.
At times, it seemed as if Ware could leap tall blockers in a single bound, or charge through them like a locomotive on the way to the quarterback. And he got there a whole bunch: The star linebacker made 138.5 sacks in his 12 pro seasons, including leading the NFL twice, in 2008 with 20 and again in 2010 with 15.5.
With numbers like that, complemented by his leadership skills and nonstop motor, it seemed inevitable that Ware would be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“It doesn’t matter if you’ve had a silver spoon or not, we all decided to be great by choice,” Ware said in a speech during which he often paused to hold back tears, particularly when forgiving his father for not always being in his life. “I was blinded by my environment as a child: domestic violence, drugs, and gangs. But my surroundings taught me to be relentless, limitless and resilient.
“The reality is you are a product of your own thinking, your own mind, and you must to learn how to persevere.”
A first-round draft pick in 2005 out of Troy, Ware often was unstoppable during his nine years in Dallas and three in Denver, which included winning the 2015 NFL championship with the Broncos. A seven-time All-Pro who made nine trips to the Pro Bowl, Ware twice finished in the top five for Defensive Player of the Year honors, including second in 2008 to James Harrison.
After leading the Cowboys in sacks as a rookie, he repeated that feat the next seven seasons. While with Dallas, he averaged 64 tackles while often being double-teamed by blockers. His 117 sacks still are a Cowboys record, and he was a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s.
He recalled an episode when his uncle was hit in the head by a gun during a parking lot party, and a knife dropped to the ground. Ware picked it up, then dropped it because “this isn’t me.”
“At that moment I knew God gave me a second chance, and I had to do something with it,” he told the crowd at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. “That was my turning point. … Every sack I made helped to ease the memory of that frightful night and replaced it with positive energy.”
Ware also had a knack for finding the end zone, hardly a usual occurrence for a sack-master. He scored twice on fumble recoveries and once on an interception. He forced 35 fumbles, just short of three per season for his entire career.
Despite some injuries, including a scary neck problem in 2009, Ware missed only three games during his Dallas days. So add dependability and availability to his resume.
He recognized Cowboys owner Jerry Jones -- one of about 100 Gold Jackets on hand -- during his speech.
“All my hard work in Troy brought me to this,” Ware explained, “Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys organization calling me on my Nokia cell phone on draft day. Jerry, I want to thank you for taking a chance on me. You gave me the opportunity to play in two of the greatest stadiums with the most amplified crowd that helped silence the pain of my past. Those places became my new church every Sunday.”
If you doubt Ware’s Superman capabilities, try this: Guess who sang the national anthem before the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night.
That was just the start of a momentous weekend for Ware and his family. His grin never seemed to leave his face, just like during his playing days.
“Players go through a lot together,” he said. “We watch each other grow as men, husbands and fathers. We build bonds that last forever. Football made us tough enough to get through things most can’t even fathom, especially loss. …
“You know, the most frequently asked question I got as a Cowboy was, `Why are you always smiling?’ I smiled because you guys were the highlight of my day and you helped me get through life outside of football. I was a sponge that absorbed everything, and I smiled. Now, I look out and I see you guys smiling.”
More on the Enshrinement of each class member
Class members are listed in order of their Enshrinement speeches:- Class of 2023: Zach Thomas — A special player in every way
- Class of 2023: Ken Riley — From college quarterback to shutdown NFL cornerback
- Class of 2023: DeMarcus Ware — No cape needed for this Superman
- Class of 2023: Joe Klecko — Versatility and perseverance were his trademarks
- Class of 2023: Chuck Howley — Much more than a Super Bowl MVP
- Class of 2023: Darrelle Revis — Definition of a shutdown cornerback
- Class of 2023: Don Coryell — A godfather of the modern offense enters the Hall of Fame
- Class of 2023: Rondé Barber — Proud to be relentlessly uncommon
- Class of 2023: Joe Thomas — A hall of Fame rarity, a megastar for losing teams
2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game
Previous Article
Class of 2023: Joe Klecko — Versatility and perseverance were his trademarks
Sixth-round draft choices must show something extra to make it in the NFL. Joe Klecko was so versatile and so determined that he now has a bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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Class of 2023: Ken Riley — From college quarterback to shutdown NFL cornerback
When Ken Riley headed to the NFL from Florida A&M, he was a quarterback. Sadly and unfortunately, Black quarterbacks rarely got the opportunity to play the position in the pros in 1969.