DeMarcus Ware Announces Retirement From NFL

By: Josh Clark 

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DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - DeMarcus Ware has announced his retirement from the NFL after 12 seasons.

"After a lot of thought and prayer, I've decided to accept the unknown and retire from my NFL career. Tempting opportunities still present themselves fro me to play and I feel better than I have in years. However, long term health and quality of life outweigh the spark and passion to play that I once had," Ware said in a statement.

"With that, I take this opportunity to thank all of the people in my life who had a hand in molding me into a great player and the God fearing man I am today. I thank the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos for opportunities to experience what greatness feels like. I will miss my teammates, coaches, and fans, who supported me over the years. I'm hanging up my cleats and beginning the journey to my next destination."

 Cowboys owner Jerry Jones issued the following statement Monday night:

"DeMarcus was everything we could have ever wanted in a player, a person and a representative of the Cowboys organization.  He was one of the most dominant NFL players at his position in his era, and he was one of the most dynamic players in the history of the Dallas Cowboys.  We wish nothing but the best for DeMarcus and his family, and we appreciate and respect his contributions to the NFL and to our team." 

The former Cowboys and Broncos defensive end walks away from his career in 8th place on the all-time sacks list with 138.5 quarterback takedowns. Ware is a 9-time pro bowler and a 4-time All-Pro. He also won the NFL's defensive player of the year award in 2008.

According to 105.3 The Fan's Mike Fisher, Dallas has reached out to Ware to discuss the possibility of him signing a 1-day contract to retire as a Cowboy.

So why is Ware walking away from the game at the age of 34-years-old? According to Fisher, per a source close to Ware, 'physically, D-Ware knows he can't be D-Ware anymore.'

Jane Slater of the NFL Network reported that Ware had offers from multiple teams that would have paid him between $7 and $8 million a season. Fisher confirmed Slater's report by adding that Dallas nor Denver were willing to pay that much to bring back the defensive stalwart.

Ware spent his first nine seasons in Dallas and the last three in Denver, where he won a Super Bowl in 2016. The Troy University product played in 141 games in a Cowboys' uniform, amassing 117 sacks and 444 total tackles. He was drafted by the Cowboys with the 11th pick in the 2005 NFL draft.

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