Future Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware announced his retirement from the NFL earlier this offseason after 12 seasons, 138.5 sacks, and a Super Bowl victory with the Broncos. At the time he decided to call it a career, there were rumors that he might return to the Dallas Cowboys to take a one-day contract and retire as a member of the organization that drafted him and for which he played during his first nine NFL seasons.
On Monday, those rumors became a reality as Ware appeared at a press conference at the Cowboys' new facility, The Star in Frisco, alongside Jerry and Stephen Jones, as well as Cowboys coach Jason Garrett. The team also announced via its official Twitter account that Ware did indeed officially retire as a member of the organization.
We are proud to announce that @DeMarcusWare will officially retire today as a Dallas Cowboy.
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) April 24, 2017
Ware it all started. #ThankYouDWare pic.twitter.com/UAsbCKX9wW
Officially official. @DeMarcusWare retires as a Dallas Cowboy. #ThankYouDWare pic.twitter.com/RKzaI31DJX
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) April 24, 2017
LB DeMarcus Ware at the Star in Frisco. As I reported in March, he will retire a Cowboys player. #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/khw5nK3Wu3
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) April 24, 2017
Ware, the Joneses, and Garrett had much to say about his career in Dallas, as well as his potential future with the team. Per David Helman, who writes for the team's official website:
Jason Garrett admits the Cowboys were concerned abt Tyron Smith in the early going of his career, because he had to deal with DeMarcus Ware.
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) April 24, 2017
DeMarcus Ware shouts out the Cowboys' fanbase, noting that every Dallas road game feels like home and every home game has 100,000 people.
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) April 24, 2017
Ware confirms that the Cowboys were one of several teams pursuing him as a player for 2017. Ultimately decided it was time to retire.
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) April 24, 2017
D-Ware says he's down to teach/coach the Cowboys' current pass rushers, assuming Jason Garrett & Jerry Jones are cool with it.
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) April 24, 2017
There are a couple of very interesting tidbits in there, notably that the Cowboys did indeed try to sign Ware this offseason (that was a hot rumor at the start of free agency), and that Ware is now among several former Cowboys willing to work with the team's defensive linemen. (Former Cowboy Leon Lett is the team's assistant defensive line coach.) The Cowboys figure to be heavily interested in defensive linemen in this week's draft, given their struggles rushing the passer since they released Ware three years ago. Having Ware on hand to teach whoever they take, as well as holdovers like DeMarcus Lawrence, David Irving, and others, would no doubt be beneficial to their cause.