Tag: Demarcus Ware

WATCH: DeMarcus Ware sings national anthem before Hall of Fame Game

DeMarcus Ware sang the national anthem before the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday. Here’s how NFL fans reacted on Twitter.

DeMarcus Ware sang the national anthem before the Hall of Fame Game between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns to kick off NFL preseason in Canton, Ohio on Thursday evening.

Ware, 41, will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 2023 class on Saturday. He totaled 138.5 sacks during his 12-year career from 2005-2016.

Ware spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, recording a franchise-record 117 sacks in 141 games. He then joined the Denver Broncos as a free agent in 2014, teaming up with Von Miller to create arguably the best pass-rushing duo in the NFL at the time.

Ware played the final three years of his career with the Broncos, totaling 21.5 sacks in 33 games. He retired from football after the 2016 season and Ware now ranks ninth on the NFL’s all-time sack list (138.5).

Many fans will remember Ware as a Cowboy, but he was a key member of Denver’s defense that led the team to a 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

Ware’s time with the Broncos might have been short, but his Super Bowl ring is an important part of the pass rusher’s Hall of Fame resume.

Here’s a sampling of how Twitter reacted to Ware’s performance on Thursday.

WATCH: Cowboys great DeMarcus Ware sings national anthem at Hall of Fame Game

From @ToddBrock24f7: He’ll be inducted this weekend, but the former Cowboy and Bronco said performing the pregame song would be the bigger strain on his nerves.

Hall of Fame Week is a wild jumble of emotions for the enshrinees each year. But for longtime Cowboys defensive superstar DeMarcus Ware, the hardest part is already over.

The franchise’s all-time sacks leader performed the national anthem before a packed house and a national television audience Thursday evening from Canton, Ohio.

The linebacker, a nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion who had played in his share of huge games, had previously confessed that the honor of singing the “Star-Spangled Banner” prior to kickoff of the Hall of Fame Game between the Browns and Jets had him more nervous than he had ever been in his 41 years.

“You can never be ready for that,” Ware said per the Dallas Morning News. “There’s ways you can prepare for it and have ample amount of vocal lessons. But when you get up there and when the crowd goes silent, it’s your turn to get up there and sing to the whole United States of America on what it stands for. And that is huge.”

The Alabama native grew up in a musical family; his mother and uncle were singers, and Ware himself was the vocalist in a band in high school.

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Technically speaking, Ware’s rendition of the anthem was less than pitch-perfect, as many on social media were quick to point out.

But the moment had extra special meaning for the former Cowboy and Bronco who will take his place among the football immortals on Saturday. Ware said the song would be dedicated to the late Demaryius Thomas, his teammate who passed away in 2021. Ware and the wide receiver used to sing the anthem together on the Denver sideline prior to games.

And to kick off a football weekend where emotions tend to supersede the actual Xs and Os of the preseason, Ware’s heartfelt anthem may have gotten things off on just the right note.

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DeMarcus Ware had the coolest reason for singing the national anthem ahead of Jets-Browns

DeMarcus Ware had the coolest reason for singing the national anthem ahead of Jets-Browns.

Former NFL outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware sang the national anthem ahead of Thursday night’s first 2023 preseason game against the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns.

Why he did so might be the coolest thing to come out of the first night of the NFL season by a mile.

According to The Dallas Morning News, Ware chose to sing the national anthem ahead of Thursday’s game in honor of his late Denver Broncos teammate Demaryius Thomas, who tragically died in 2021.

The two reportedly sang it together on the sideline while in Denver.

“You can never be ready for that,” Ware told the publication of singing the anthem. “There’s ways you can prepare for it and have ample amount of vocal lessons. But when you get up there and when the crowd goes silent, it’s your turn to get up there and sing to the whole United States of America on what it stands for. And that is huge.”

You have to give Ware props for tackling such a hard thing as singing the national anthem publicly for such a moving reason.

As he gets enshrined in Canton, Ohio, this weekend for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he’ll have plenty of memories to take for this important week.

DeMarcus Ware named best player in NFL history to wear No. 94

Touchdown Wire named Broncos Super Bowl 50 champion DeMarcus Ware the best player in NFL history to wear No. 94.

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar recently revealed his list of the best players to wear each jersey number in NFL history.

For jersey No. 94, Farrar picked DeMarcus Ware, who was just elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2023 class in February. Ware spent the majority of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, but he finished his career with the Denver Broncos and he was a key member of the team that won Super Bowl 50 in 2015.

Ware will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio in August and the Broncos will honor him at a home game in September.

In addition to Ware, four other Broncos were named the best players to ever wear their respective numbers: linebacker Randy Gradishar (53), running back Terrell Davis (30), quarterback Peyton Manning (18) and quarterback John Elway (7). 

Seventeen other former Broncos received honorable mentions at their respective numbers: Russell Wilson (3), Champ Bailey (24), Clinton Portis (26), Steve Atwater (27), Billy Thompson (36), Floyd Little (44), John Lynch (47), Dennis Smith (49), Von MIller (58), Gary Zimmerman (65), Tom Nalen (66), Mark Schlereth (69), Lyle Alzado (77), Rod Smith (80), Wes Welker (83), Shannon Sharpe (84) and Simeon Rice (97).

To view the full list of the best players to wear each number in NFL history, visit Touchdown Wire.

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Broncos won’t add any players to Ring of Fame in 2023

The Broncos won’t add any players to the Ring of Fame this year, but Super Bowl 50 champ DeMarcus Ware will be honored in Week 2.

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In a somewhat surprising move, the Denver Broncos announced they won’t add a Ring of Fame member in 2023, per Mike Klis. There was no honoree in 2022, either.

Part of the reason is that the team is in the process of a $100 million stadium renovation that has been ongoing during the offseason.

The Broncos will honor Super Bowl 50 champion DeMarcus Ware in Week 2, perhaps somewhat in place of a traditional Ring of Fame ceremony. Despite winning a championship in Denver, Ware is not eligible for the team’s Ring of Fame because he only played with the team for three seasons (the ROF minimum is four years).

The last Bronco to be honored in the Ring of Fame was Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning in 2021. When Klis mentioned the news about the Ring of Fame and announced the new committee, he also spoke of future Ring of Fame candidates. Among the candidates Klis offered were the late Demaryius Thomas, Steve Foley (the franchise leader in interceptions) and former head coach Gary Kubiak.

Denver first debuted the Ring of Fame in 1984, with safety Austin “Goose” Gonsoulin as the first honoree in franchise history. Earlier this week, the Broncos announced the passing of Ring of Fame kicker Jim Turner.

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Broncos to honor Super Bowl XXXIII team and DeMarcus Ware in Week 2

The Broncos will honor their Super Bowl XXXIII team and Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware in Week 2 this season.

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The Denver Broncos will honor the 25th anniversary of the team that won Super Bowl XXXIII, as well as Pro Football Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware on Alumni Weekend in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders this season.

The Broncos similarly honored the Super Bowl XXXII-winning team in 2022.

The second-most recent team to win back-to-back Super Bowls, the 1998 squad may have been one of the most impressive teams in Denver history. In the regular season, the Broncos boasted the second-highest scoring offense in the NFL, along with the eighth-ranked defense. Running back Terrell Davis rushed for over 2,000 yards, kicker Jason Elam tied the then-NFL record with a 63-yard field goal, the team started the season 13-0, and Denver finished the regular season at an impressive 14-2 record.

In the postseason, the Broncos cruised past the Miami Dolphins in the divisional round before winning a nail-biter of a game in the AFC Championship against the New York Jets, 23-10. In the Super Bowl, Denver completely dismantled their NFC foes, the Atlanta Falcons, 34-19. Quarterback John Elway retired following the season, capping a Hall of Fame career.

Also part of the weekend will be honoring the Hall of Fame induction of defensive end DeMarcus Ware. Ware signed with the Broncos as a free agent prior to the 2014 season, giving the team a formidable pass-rushing duo with Von Miller on one side and Ware on the other. Ware was part of the team that won Super Bowl 50 against the Carolina Panthers. Ware retired from football after the 2016 season.

The Walton-Penner ownership group has done a superb job with paying homage to Denver’s past, according to Broncos alumni. This is just another example of their commitment to the team’s past, as well as the franchise’s future.

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DeMarcus Ware to sing national anthem before NFL Hall of Fame Game

Broncos Super Bowl 50 champ and 2023 Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware will sing the national anthem at the NFL Hall of Fame Game in August.

“Oh, say can you see?” Yep, we see you, DeMarcus Ware!

Former Denver Broncos linebacker DeMarcus Ware has been announced as the singer of the national anthem before the 2023 Hall of Fame game featuring the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns on Aug. 3.

According to the team’s official website, Ware has been musical throughout his life, from growing up in Alabama to his time in Denver. Ware is a member of the band “Mirage” and has been known to use his pipes at other events, such as a community event hosted by the Broncos during his playing time in the Mile High City.

Ware is part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2023, which also features offensive visionary Don Coryell, cornerback Darelle Revis, running back Ronde Barber, linebacker Zach Thomas, left tackle Joe Thomas, and senior inductees Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko and Ken Riley.

Ware is the 11th Denver player to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio. Before Ware, quarterback Peyton Manning and safety John Lynch were the latest to be honored with a gold jacket (2021).

Check out one of Ware’s songs from “Mirage” on YouTube.

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DeMarcus Ware to announce a Broncos pick on Day 2 of NFL draft

Broncos Super Bowl 50 champion DeMarcus Ware will announce at least one pick for Denver on Day 2 of the NFL draft.

The 2023 NFL draft will take place on Thursday, April 27, and the hype as of late has centered around which quarterback will go No. 1: C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young? The Denver Broncos are not in the quarterback business for this year’s draft, but they will get a chance to make some selections.

Due to the Broncos trading away their first- and second-round draft picks to acquire Russell Wilson in March of 2022, you won’t see anyone announcing a draft pick for Denver on the first day of the draft (barring a trade).

However, they do have third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-round choices available, and former Broncos pass rusher and NFL Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware will announce a Day 2 pick.

Day 2 will center on Rounds 2-3. The Broncos currently have two selections in the third round and Ware has been selected to announce “at least one” of them on Friday, according to a press release from the team.

After beginning on Thursday, the draft will continue Friday and wrap up on Saturday. After that, teams will fill their 90-man offseason rosters by signing undrafted free agents.

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10 best free agent signings in Broncos history

The Broncos have had some of the biggest free agent signings in NFL history. Do you agree with our list?

Throughout their storied history, the Denver Broncos have made several franchise-shaking signings in free agency. Here is a quick look back at the best free agency additions in franchise history.

DeMarcus Ware selects Jerry Jones as his Hall of Fame presenter

DeMarcus Ware spent the majority of his career in Dallas, but he will represent both the Cowboys and Broncos in the Hall of Fame.

When DeMarcus Ware is presented for enshrinement with the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class this summer, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones will do the honors.

“I’m here because you were the voice that welcomed me into the Hall of Fame,” Ware told Jones at the Cowboys’ facility last week, via Patrik Walker of the team’s official website. “I want you to be that voice that keeps going. I want you to be my presenter this year for the Hall of Fame.”

Jones was the one who told Ware in February that the pass rusher would be part of this year’s class after being elected by Hall of Fame voters.

After being selected by Jones in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft, Ware spent the majority of his career in Dallas before signing with the Denver Broncos in 2014. He went on to have a productive three-year run in Denver that included a win in Super Bowl 50.

That Super Bowl ring is a key part of Ware’s Hall of Fame resume, and he will represent both the Cowboys and the Broncos in the Hall of Fame.

Ware will be inducted with the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class in Canton, Ohio on Saturday, Aug. 5 at 10:00 a.m. MT on NFL Network.

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