DeMarcus Ware spent nine seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and racked up 117 sacks, the most in franchise history. He would go on to spend three seasons with the Denver Broncos (2014-2016) where he registered 21.5 more and helped their franchise win Super Bowl 50.
Ware finished his career with seven All-Pro selections (four first-team), nine Pro Bowls honors, a two-time sack leader (2008, 2010), a winner of the Butkus Award twice (2008, 2011), and a spot on the NFL 2000s All-Decade team. Once 2022 rolled around, Ware was eligible to be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Most people believed he was a slam-dunk first-ballot selection, however, Ware was not one of the inductees announced on Thursday night in a shocking turn of events.
Although all the members of the 2022 class are certainly worthy of being enshrined in Canton, Ware’s snub was mind-blowing. Bryant Young and Richard Seymour tallied 89.5 and 57.5 sacks respectively while playing both defensive tackle and defensive end, but it’s not even close to Ware’s production who played two fewer seasons than Young and the same amount of years as Seymour.
Ware amassed 35 forced fumbles, 171 tackles for loss, 229 quarterback hits, and 25 passes defended for his career. When factoring in his sack totals as well, Ware not making the Hall of Fame on the first ballot surprised many around the NFL landscape. He shouldn’t have to wait long, as in 2023 hopefully, but not being selected this year was a head-scratcher.
