DeMarcus Ware: Class of 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame snapshot

DeMarcus Ware chases down New York’s Tiki Barber in 2005.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – DeMarcus Ware started 173 of 178 games in his career and was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his second year of eligibility.

Class of 2023 profiles: Today we are featuring a snapshot of each individual being enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton in the order they will be inducted. Enshrinement starts at noon Saturday, Aug. 5, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

Class of 2023: Rondé Barber, Don Coryell, Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko, Darrelle Revis, Ken Riley, Joe Thomas, Zach Thomas, DeMarcus Ware.

Born: July 31, 1982, in Auburn, Alabama.

Speech order: Third.

Presenter: Hall of Famer Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys owner.

Induction: Player.

Position: Outside linebacker.

College: Troy.

Draft: First round, 2005.

Teams and years played: 12 – Dallas, 2005-13; Denver, 2014-16.

Jersey: 94.

The knock: Jerry Jones knocked on Ware’s door with the news he made the hall.

Special artifact in the hall: Ware’s draft card as a first-round pick and the shoes he wore Sept. 11, 2011, in remembrance of those who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Quote: “He’s the greatest teammate I’ve ever had and it’s not even close.” – Ryan Harris, who played with Ware in Denver. Source: Denver Gazette

About Ware in 50 words: He holds the Cowboys’ career sacks record (117) and earned a Super Bowl 50 ring with Denver. Ware, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s. In 2008, he recorded 20 sacks. He finished his career ninth all time in sacks with 138.5.

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Related coverage: Gambling 101: Everything you need to know about sports betting in Ohio

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I am on cleveland.com’s life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. For my recent stories, here’s a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursdays. Twitter: @mbona30. My latest book, co-authored with Dan Murphy, is “Joe Thomas: Not Your Average Joe” by Gray & Co.

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