Former Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos linebacker DeMarcus Ware was one of the fiercest defenders in the NFL throughout his prime. Ware played 12 NFL seasons and was a four-time First-Team All-Pro at the outside linebacker position.
For all the talent Ware possessed, he couldn’t escape the injury bug, which caught up to him late in his career. Ware retired from football in 2017 at the age of 34, but where is the former Pro Bowl pass rusher today?
DeMarcus Ware grew up in Auburn, Alabama, and attended Auburn High School. After high school, he went off to play defensive end at Troy University. He starred at Troy and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft as the 11th overall pick.
Ware started all 16 games as a rookie, playing in an NFL game for the first time against the San Diego Chargers. In 2006, Ware made his first of nine Pro Bowls after recording 73 tackles, five forced fumbles and 11.5 sacks.
In 2007, Ware was named to the NFC’s First-Team All-Pro and would do so in the next three seasons. Ware logged 33.5 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, 166 tackles and one interception throughout that span.
Ware remained a crucial cog in the Dallas defense, frequently getting after opposing quarterbacks after bursting through offensive lines through the 2013 season. When the Cowboys adopted a new defensive scheme, Ware hit the exit door and departed for free agency.
Ware signed a contract with the Denver Broncos that provided a talented team with veteran leadership and a strong locker room presence. During his second season in the Mile High City, lining up alongside fellow stud linebacker Von Miller, Ware earned his lone Super Bowl ring, helping the Broncos defeat the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
While in Denver, Ware made two AFC Pro Bowl squads and continued to make life hell for opposing quarterbacks and running backs. Unfortunately, the injuries began to catch up to Ware at this point in his career, and he struggled to stay healthy.
He missed five games in 2015 and played ten games in 2016 before undergoing a series of season-ending back surgeries. That would be his last year in the league as he announced his retirement in 2017.
Ware will first be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022, and it’s widely expected he’ll get in. He finished his 12-year career with 657 tackles, 138.5 sacks, 35 forced fumbles and three interceptions. He played in 178 regular-season games and eight playoff games.
Nowadays, Ware is the creator of a popular fitness app called Driven to Win. The app uses blockchain technology to personalize workouts for a person following a phase of testing.
After retiring in 2017, Ware was looking for what to do next, and he found his niche in working out. According to ESPN, he turned his garage in his Texas home into a training studio for 18 months, opening it under the name 3 Volt Fitness.
NFL stars such as Leighton Vander Esch, Tyron Smith, Von Miller and Chris Harris, all former teammates of Ware’s, have their training regimens included in the app for users at home to try. With so many people working from home during the pandemic, the app enabled people to complete workouts from the comfort of their own homes.
Additionally, Ware serves as a mentor to some of the young defensive players on the Broncos, including the hyper-talented Bradley Chubb, per USA Today. Ware has made appearances during training camp to offer advice and wisdom. He also attended Broncos games and was spotted on the sideline during a 2020 clash with the Cleveland Browns.
Ware’s personal life has been blossoming since retirement.
In December 2020, he got engaged to Angela Marie Daniel. She is a fitness trainer and coach for Ware’s fitness app. They tied the knot in April 2021, and she now goes by Angela Ware. He also has two kids with his ex-wife Taniqua Smith named Marley and DeMarcus Jr.
In July 2021, DeMarcus and Angela announced Angela was pregnant with a boy.
DeMarcus Ware is likely to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022, and he’ll have his family by his side if he is.
