DeMarcus Ware
A fearsome pass-rusher whose relentless pursuit of quarterbacks rewrote record books and powered a defense to a Super Bowl championship.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American football player·Birthday: July 31·Millennials
Biography
DeMarcus Ware arrived in the NFL with a quiet intensity and a physique sculpted for destruction. Drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, he quickly established himself as one of the most dominant defensive forces of his generation, a hybrid linebacker-end with a devastating first step and an array of pass-rush moves. For nine seasons, he was the heart of the Cowboys' defense, consistently posting double-digit sack totals and haunting offensive coordinators' dreams. His career found a storybook second act in Denver, where he became a veteran leader and crucial component of the Broncos' historic defense, finally capturing a Super Bowl ring in his penultimate season. Ware's legacy is etched in cold statistics and the palpable fear he instilled in opponents every Sunday.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
DeMarcus was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When DeMarcus Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
DeMarcus's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Recorded 138.5 career quarterback sacks, ranking in the top ten all-time upon his retirement.
- Won Super Bowl 50 as a key member of the Denver Broncos' top-ranked defense.
- Elected to the Pro Bowl nine times and was a four-time First-Team All-Pro selection.
- Set the Dallas Cowboys franchise record for career sacks with 117.
Did You Know?
He was a state champion triple jumper in high school in Alabama.
Ware played much of the 2015 season, including the Super Bowl, with a debilitating back injury that required offseason surgery.
He is a member of the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team.
He recorded at least 10 sacks in seven consecutive seasons from 2006 to 2012.
“Pressure is a privilege. It only comes to those who earn it.”
