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Cowboys to induct DeMarcus Ware into Ring of Honor this Sunday

profilephotocropby:Suzanne Halliburton•10/25/23•

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Demarcus ware
Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys will honor DeMarcus Ware this Sunday with his induction into the team’s cherished Ring of Honor. The ceremony will be at halftime.

Back in August, just days after Ware was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said it was time to give Ware this more team-specific honor at AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys announced details of the ceremony, Wednesday morning.

Jones will do the induction honors, while other members of the exclusive club will be on the field for the ceremony.

The Cowboys selected Ware with the 11th pick of the 2005 NFL Draft. He spent nine seasons with the Cowboys harassing quarterbacks. When he left after the 2013 season to sign with the Broncos, Ware was Dallas’ all-time leader in sacks with 117. His best sack seasons for the Cowboys were in 2008 (20 sacks) and 2011 (19.5).

DeMarcus Ware, seen here rushing Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins in 2013, retired as the Cowboys all-time leading rusher. He’ll be inducted into Dallas’ Ring of Honor this Sunday. (Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports)

Ware helped the Broncos win a Super Bowl. He announced his retirement at the end of the 2016 season. However, he signed a one-day contract with the Cowboys so he could retire as a member of the silver and blue.

Jones presented ex-Cowboys star for Hall in Canton ceremony

Jones announced that Ware would be the newest inductee at a special season kickoff event two months ago. Coincidentally, Ware was the host of the event. Yet no one told him the news ahead of time. Jones also had the honor of telling Ware he was headed to Canton, Ohio, for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame early this year.

In return, Ware asked the Cowboys owner to present him for induction during the Canton celebration.

“This is the second time he’s surprised me,” Ware told everyone at the kickoff event. “The first time when you told me I was going into the (Pro Football) Hall of Fame. And secondly, for me getting into your Hall of Fame. That means so much to me. Yes, Canton was great, but this is my home and my dad [Jones] that I played for. I did enough.”

The Cowboys haven’t inducted a player into the Ring of Honor since 2015. That’s when Darren Woodson received the coveted honor. Gil Brandt, who died earlier this year, was the last person added to the Ring. He worked as the Cowboys VP for player personnel.

Ware returned to the D-FW area in 2017 after he finished playing football. He also is active member in the Dallas Cowboys Alumni Association.

Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor Members (year enshrined)

  • Troy Aikman (2005)
  • Larry Allen (2011)
  • Gil Brandt (2018)
  • Tony Dorsett (1994)
  • Charles Haley (2011)
  • Cliff Harris (2004)
  • Bob Hayes (2001)
  • Chuck Howley (1977)
  • Michael Irvin (2005)
  • Lee Roy Jordan (1989)
  • Tom Landry (1993)
  • Don Meredith (1976)
  • Drew Pearson (2011)
  • Don Perkins (1976)
  • Mel Renfro (1981)
  • Tex Schramm (2003)
  • Emmitt Smith (2005)
  • Roger Staubach (1983)
  • DeMarcus Ware (2023)
  • Randy White (1994)
  • Darren Woodson (2015)
  • Rayfield Wright (2004)

The Cowboys will play the Rams, Sunday, at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is at noon, Central. Dallas is 4-2. They’re coming off a bye weekend.