Demarcus Ware
Encyclopedia
DeMarcus Ware is an American football
linebacker
for the Dallas Cowboys
of the National Football League
. He was drafted
with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft
out of Troy University
. In 2009, Ware was listed as the best 3-4 outside linebacker by Sporting News and has been described as "the most dynamic defender in the league right now" by ESPN
.
, basketball, baseball
, and ran track as a youth. In football, as a senior, he won every game, was named the team Most Valuable Wide Receiver, team Most Valuable Linebacker, and the was awarded the team's Top Leadership honors. He finished his senior season with seven sacks and 55 total tackles (40 solo tackles, 15 assisted tackles).
Ware and current New York Giants
defensive end Osi Umenyiora
attended Auburn High School, as well as former Washington Redskins
linebacker Marcus Washington
. Ware, along with fellow pro-mates, annually attends a celebrity basketball game held at his high school. The event was started by Marcus Washington.
and was a two time All-Sun Belt Conference
selection. He and Osi Umenyiora
of the New York Giants
were teammates. As a senior he was the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year, and was a finalist for the Hendricks Award, which is given annually to the top defensive end in college football. In 2004, he led his team to its first-ever bowl appearance - Silicon Valley Football Classic.
He finished his college
career with 27.5 sacks, 195 tackles (57 for losses), 74 quarterback hurries, ten forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and one interception. His 27.5 sacks rank second in school history for sacks in a career, and his 57 tackles for losses rank first in school history.
and was projected to go early in the second round of the draft by Sports Illustrated
. Cowboys
Owner/GM Jerry Jones
decided to overrule then head coach Bill Parcells
who wanted to select Marcus Spears
(later drafted by Dallas at #20), and decided to draft Ware with the 11th overall pick.
Ware also was credited with 430-pound bench press, a 570-pound squat and a 360-pound power clean.
Ware posted three tackles, a tackle for a loss and a quarterback pressure. Cowboys won the game 28-24. In a match against San Francisco
in Week 3 he recorded his first sack
taking down Tim Rattay
. After the month of October Ware earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month award after recording 16 tackles, three sacks and seven quarterback pressures to help Dallas go 3-2. In Week 16, Ware recorded three sacks and three forced fumbles in a match against the Carolina Panthers
. For his performance in this week, Ware was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week and the Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week. He also tied the Cowboys record for most sacks in a single game, held by Randy White
. He finished with 58 total tackles, 14 tackles for losses and three forced fumbles. What's more, he also tied Greg Ellis with a team-best eight sacks. With this result, Ware joined Jimmie Jones
as the only rookies to ever lead or tie for the Dallas Cowboys team lead in sacks.
record of 10.5 from 1983
. He added 73 tackles, a fumble recovery and interception, both returned for a touchdown. Ware was named a starter on the NFC Pro Bowl
team and was also named Second-team All-Pro
by The Associated Press. In Week 6 against division rival Eagles
, Ware made a memorable moment with his 69 yard fumble return for his first NFL touchdown. He recorded his first career interception against Michael Vick
in match against Atlanta Falcons
and turned it for a 41-yard touchdown.
had even gone so far as to call him the best outside linebacker in the league. Ware has become the second Cowboy ever to record at least 14 sacks in a season, since Jim Jeffcoat
in 1986
. Also led the team in quarterback pressures (27), tackles for losses (8) and forced fumbles (4) while finishing with 80 tackles. Ware made his second straight Pro Bowl
along with 12 other teammates. He was also selected to the All-Pro
team for the second straight year along with teammates Terrell Owens
and Jason Witten
.
, Ware tied the NFL record of former Denver Broncos
linebacker Simon Fletcher for recording a sack in ten straight games. Ware was selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl
after pacing the league, establishing an official club record and tying Derrick Thomas
for sixth in league history with 20.0 sacks. Ware ended the 2008 season with 84 tackles, 9.0 tackles for a loss, six forced fumbles and two passes defended. DeMarcus was named NFC Defensive Player of the Year by Kansas City Committee as well as NFL Alumni Pass Rusher of the Year
. Ware also became the first recipient of the professional Butkus Award.
. The injury was diagnosed later as a sprained neck. He was taken to the hospital for further tests, and released the next day. He came back to play the very next week, against the then undefeated New Orleans Saints
, and recorded two sack-fumbles including the one that ended the Saints' chances at a comeback. For this performance he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. He made fourth consecutive nomination Pro Bowl
as a starter in 2009 after leading the team with 11.0 sacks, a career-high 45 pressures and five forced fumbles. He was also named to the First All-Pro
team.
and another All-Pro
nomination.
's sack record of 22.5 sacks in a season. On October 30, 2011, Ware recorded a career high 4 sacks against the Philadelphia Eagles.
member and the daughter of a police officer, in March 2005. After three difficult pregnancies—including the birth and death of a son, Omar, in 2006—they adopted their daughter Marley (b February 29, 2008) and their son Bryce . They planned to become a foster family as well as continue trying for a biological family, which they achieved with the birth of their son, DeMarcus, Jr., on November 20, 2010.
He graduated from Troy
with a degree in business information systems, becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college.
He takes part in multiple charities.
Ware and his mother have appeared in Chunky Soup Commercials with LaDainian Tomlinson
, Jonathan Vilma, Matt Hasselbeck
, Maurice Jones-Drew
and other prominent young players with their mothers.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
out of Troy University
Troy University
Troy University is a public university that is located in Troy, Alabama, United States. It was originally founded in 1887 as Troy Normal School. Its main campus enrollment is 7,194 students. The total enrollment of all Troy University campuses is 29,689...
. In 2009, Ware was listed as the best 3-4 outside linebacker by Sporting News and has been described as "the most dynamic defender in the league right now" by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
Early years
Ware played footballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, basketball, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, and ran track as a youth. In football, as a senior, he won every game, was named the team Most Valuable Wide Receiver, team Most Valuable Linebacker, and the was awarded the team's Top Leadership honors. He finished his senior season with seven sacks and 55 total tackles (40 solo tackles, 15 assisted tackles).
Ware and current New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
defensive end Osi Umenyiora
Osi Umenyiora
-2003:Umenyiora was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the New York Giants out of Troy State University, now Troy University. He was number 72. As a rookie in 2003, he played in 13 games with one start.-2005:...
attended Auburn High School, as well as former Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
linebacker Marcus Washington
Marcus Washington
Marcus Cornelius Washington is an American football linebacker. After completing his college career with Auburn he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
. Ware, along with fellow pro-mates, annually attends a celebrity basketball game held at his high school. The event was started by Marcus Washington.
College career
DeMarcus Ware attended Troy UniversityTroy University
Troy University is a public university that is located in Troy, Alabama, United States. It was originally founded in 1887 as Troy Normal School. Its main campus enrollment is 7,194 students. The total enrollment of all Troy University campuses is 29,689...
and was a two time All-Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
selection. He and Osi Umenyiora
Osi Umenyiora
-2003:Umenyiora was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the New York Giants out of Troy State University, now Troy University. He was number 72. As a rookie in 2003, he played in 13 games with one start.-2005:...
of the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
were teammates. As a senior he was the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year, and was a finalist for the Hendricks Award, which is given annually to the top defensive end in college football. In 2004, he led his team to its first-ever bowl appearance - Silicon Valley Football Classic.
He finished his college
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
career with 27.5 sacks, 195 tackles (57 for losses), 74 quarterback hurries, ten forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and one interception. His 27.5 sacks rank second in school history for sacks in a career, and his 57 tackles for losses rank first in school history.
2005 NFL Draft
A defensive end at Troy, Ware was considered a "tweener DE/OLB prospect" by most scouts. He was supposed to be a perfect fit as rush linebacker in 3-4 defense prior the 2005 NFL Draft2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
and was projected to go early in the second round of the draft by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
. Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
Owner/GM Jerry Jones
Jerry Jones
Jerral "Jerry" Wayne Jones is the owner and general manager of the NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys.-Early life:Jones was born in Los Angeles, California. His family moved to North Little Rock, Arkansas when he was an infant. Jones was a star running back at North Little Rock High School...
decided to overrule then head coach Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
who wanted to select Marcus Spears
Marcus Spears (defensive end)
For the offensive lineman, see Marcus Spears .Marcus Raishonie Spears is an American football defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League...
(later drafted by Dallas at #20), and decided to draft Ware with the 11th overall pick.
Ware also was credited with 430-pound bench press, a 570-pound squat and a 360-pound power clean.
2005 season
In his NFL debut against San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Ware posted three tackles, a tackle for a loss and a quarterback pressure. Cowboys won the game 28-24. In a match against San Francisco
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in Week 3 he recorded his first sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
taking down Tim Rattay
Tim Rattay
Timothy F. Rattay [] is a former professional American football quarterback who played in the National Football League and United Football League. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
. After the month of October Ware earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month award after recording 16 tackles, three sacks and seven quarterback pressures to help Dallas go 3-2. In Week 16, Ware recorded three sacks and three forced fumbles in a match against the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. For his performance in this week, Ware was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week and the Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week. He also tied the Cowboys record for most sacks in a single game, held by Randy White
Randy White (American football)
Randall Lee "Randy" White is a former American football defensive lineman and linebacker. He attended the University of Maryland from 1971 to 1974, and played professionally for the Dallas Cowboys from 1975 to 1988. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
. He finished with 58 total tackles, 14 tackles for losses and three forced fumbles. What's more, he also tied Greg Ellis with a team-best eight sacks. With this result, Ware joined Jimmie Jones
Jimmie Jones
Jimmie Sims Jones is a former professional American football player who played defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, and the Philadelphia Eagles. He played in 121 games and had 32 sacks...
as the only rookies to ever lead or tie for the Dallas Cowboys team lead in sacks.
2006 season
In 2006 Ware ended the regular season with a team high 11.5 sacks the most ever by a Cowboys linebacker, breaking Anthony Dickerson’sAnthony Dickerson
Anthony Charles Dickerson was an American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills...
record of 10.5 from 1983
1983 Dallas Cowboys season
The Dallas Cowboys completed the 1983 season with a record of 12 wins and 4 losses, finishing second in the NFC East. The team started the season with seven straight victories, including a memorable Monday night win over the Washington Redskins in which the team erased a 20 point halftime deficit...
. He added 73 tackles, a fumble recovery and interception, both returned for a touchdown. Ware was named a starter on the NFC Pro Bowl
2007 Pro Bowl
The 2007 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl took place on February 10, 2007, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The game was held on a Saturday instead of the usual Sunday after the Super Bowl because of a request by broadcaster CBS....
team and was also named Second-team All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
by The Associated Press. In Week 6 against division rival Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Ware made a memorable moment with his 69 yard fumble return for his first NFL touchdown. He recorded his first career interception against Michael Vick
Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
in match against Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and turned it for a 41-yard touchdown.
2007 season
Ware had a breakout in the 2007 season. The new Cowboys Head coach Wade PhillipsWade Phillips
Wade Allen Phillips is the defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans and former head coach for the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills. He was also an interim head coach for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons...
had even gone so far as to call him the best outside linebacker in the league. Ware has become the second Cowboy ever to record at least 14 sacks in a season, since Jim Jeffcoat
Jim Jeffcoat
James Wilson Jeffcoat, Jr. is a former American football defensive lineman who played fifteen seasons in the National Football League. From 2008 to 2010 he served as defensive line coach for the Houston Cougars football team...
in 1986
1986 Dallas Cowboys season
The Dallas Cowboys concluded the 1986 season with a record of 7 wins and 9 losses, finishing without a winning record for the first time since 1965....
. Also led the team in quarterback pressures (27), tackles for losses (8) and forced fumbles (4) while finishing with 80 tackles. Ware made his second straight Pro Bowl
2008 Pro Bowl
The 2008 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was the NFL's all-star game for the 2007 season. It was played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 10, 2008. The game was televised in the United States by Fox and began shortly after 11:40am local time . The NFC won, 42–30, despite a 17-point first half AFC...
along with 12 other teammates. He was also selected to the All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
team for the second straight year along with teammates Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
and Jason Witten
Jason Witten
Christopher Jason Witten is an American football tight end who plays for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Tennessee....
.
2008 season
In the 2008 matchup against the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, Ware tied the NFL record of former Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
linebacker Simon Fletcher for recording a sack in ten straight games. Ware was selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl
2009 Pro Bowl
The 2009 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was the NFL's all-star game for the 2008 season. It was played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 8, 2009. This was the last time that a Pro Bowl game was held after the NFL Super Bowl game...
after pacing the league, establishing an official club record and tying Derrick Thomas
Derrick Thomas
Derrick Vincent Thomas , nicknamed D.T., was an American football linebacker and defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . He played his entire 11-year career for the Chiefs after being drafted fourth overall in the 1989 NFL Draft...
for sixth in league history with 20.0 sacks. Ware ended the 2008 season with 84 tackles, 9.0 tackles for a loss, six forced fumbles and two passes defended. DeMarcus was named NFC Defensive Player of the Year by Kansas City Committee as well as NFL Alumni Pass Rusher of the Year
National Football League Alumni
The NFL Alumni is a 501 charity that is composed of former NFL players and associate members who work voluntarily to raise funds for youth-oriented causes and engage in hands-on service to foster the development of "youth through sports and sports through youth." The NFL Alumni advances its motto...
. Ware also became the first recipient of the professional Butkus Award.
2009 season
In October, Ware signed a six-year, $78 million contract, putting him among the top five of highest paid defenders in the NFL. Two months later, Ware suffered a neck injury and was taken off the field by a cart while playing against the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The injury was diagnosed later as a sprained neck. He was taken to the hospital for further tests, and released the next day. He came back to play the very next week, against the then undefeated New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, and recorded two sack-fumbles including the one that ended the Saints' chances at a comeback. For this performance he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. He made fourth consecutive nomination Pro Bowl
2010 Pro Bowl
The 2010 AFC–NFC Pro Bowl was the NFL's all-star game for the 2009 season. It took place at 8:00 PM EST on Sunday, January 31, 2010, at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, the home stadium of the Miami Dolphins and host site of Super Bowl XLIV...
as a starter in 2009 after leading the team with 11.0 sacks, a career-high 45 pressures and five forced fumbles. He was also named to the First All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
team.
2010 season
Ware recorded 15.5 sacks and led the NFL in that category for the second time in three seasons. He also made his fifth Pro Bowl2011 Pro Bowl
The 2011 AFC–NFC Pro Bowl was the NFL's all-star game for the 2010 season. It took place at 7:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, January 30, 2011 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii...
and another All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
nomination.
2011 season
Through 9 games Ware has recorded 14.0 sacks, 36 tackles, a pass deflection and 3 forced fumbles. He is on pace to pass Michael StrahanMichael Strahan
Michael Anthony Strahan is a former National Football League defensive end who played his entire career for the New York Giants; a career where he set the record for the most sacks in a single season and won a Super Bowl in his final year. He is currently a football analyst on Fox NFL Sunday, and...
's sack record of 22.5 sacks in a season. On October 30, 2011, Ware recorded a career high 4 sacks against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Regular season
| Year | | Team | | Games | | Starts | | Tackles | | Interceptions | | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comb | Total | Ast | TcklLoss | Sck | PDef | Int | Yds | TDs | FF | FR | Yds | TDs | ||||
| 2005 2005 NFL season The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006... |
DAL | 16 | 16 | 58 | 47 | 11 | 11 | 8.0 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | 3 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2006 2006 NFL season The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006... |
DAL | 16 | 16 | 71 | 57 | 14 | 5 | 11.5 | 5 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 69 | 1 |
| 2007 2007 NFL season The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30.... |
DAL | 16 | 16 | 84 | 60 | 24 | 8 | 14.0 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | 4 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2008 2008 NFL season The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the... |
DAL | 16 | 16 | 84 | 69 | 15 | 27 | 20.0 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | 6 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2009 2009 NFL season The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at... |
DAL | 16 | 15 | 57 | 45 | 12 | 9 | 11.0 | 6 | -- | -- | -- | 5 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2010 2010 NFL season The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,... |
DAL | 16 | 16 | 66 | 56 | 10 | 19 | 15.5 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | 2 | 2 | 22 | 1 |
| 2011 2011 NFL season The 2011 NFL season, the 92nd regular season of the National Football League, began on Thursday, September 8, 2011 with the Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers defeating the New Orleans Saints 42–34 at Lambeau Field and will end with Super Bowl XLVI, the league's championship game, on... |
DAL | 8 | 8 | 36 | 25 | 2 | 19 | 14.0 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | 2 | 2 | -- | -- |
| Career | 104 | 103 | 454 | 366 | 86 | 79 | 94.0 | 19 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 27 | 4 | 91 | 2 | |
Personal life
Ware married his high school sweetheart Taniqua Smith, a former Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
member and the daughter of a police officer, in March 2005. After three difficult pregnancies—including the birth and death of a son, Omar, in 2006—they adopted their daughter Marley (b February 29, 2008) and their son Bryce . They planned to become a foster family as well as continue trying for a biological family, which they achieved with the birth of their son, DeMarcus, Jr., on November 20, 2010.
He graduated from Troy
Troy University
Troy University is a public university that is located in Troy, Alabama, United States. It was originally founded in 1887 as Troy Normal School. Its main campus enrollment is 7,194 students. The total enrollment of all Troy University campuses is 29,689...
with a degree in business information systems, becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college.
He takes part in multiple charities.
Ware and his mother have appeared in Chunky Soup Commercials with LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tramayne Tomlinson is an American football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers fifth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Christian.Tomlinson, often referred to by his initials, L...
, Jonathan Vilma, Matt Hasselbeck
Matt Hasselbeck
Matthew Michael Hasselbeck is a National Football League quarterback for the Tennessee Titans. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft, and traded to Seattle in 2001. After becoming the starter in 2003, Hasselbeck led Seattle to six playoff appearances and...
, Maurice Jones-Drew
Maurice Jones-Drew
Maurice Christopher Jones-Drew is a professional American football player who currently plays running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League . He was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
and other prominent young players with their mothers.