DeMarcus Ware is a powerhouse. He's six-foot-four and 258 pounds. He spent nine seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, becoming the franchise's all-time leader in quarterback sacks. Now, as a defensive end for the Denver Broncos, Ware (who resides in Southlake) is rounding out a Hall of Fame career. He met Southlake Style’s editor in the heat of summer to talk about his career, his family and what drives him.
Q: You're currently No. 13 on the NFL all-time sacks list with 131 in your career. How does it feel to be so close to having Hall of Fame credentials?
A: It’s like a dream come true. I think about the guys I looked up to when I was younger, playing Madden – the Michael Strahans, the Bruce Smiths or the Randy Whites. And now my name is being incorporated with those guys. It's like I've arrived. It feels really good.
Q: Is there a quarterback you've wanted to sack but haven't?
A: Phillip Rivers. I haven’t sacked him and I’ve played him probably eight or nine times. I sacked him in the pre-season, but that doesn't count. Now he's in my division. He's one of those guys who's a good quarterback. Just being able to put pressure on him and create some kind of havoc out there. That's a big goal of mine – just try to get to him this year.
Q: What do you do to recharge?
A: Spend time with my kids. [It’s great] when I go home and the kids are smiling. They don’t care how many guys I had to hit or what I had to do. I love spending time with them. With my daughter, it’s “let’s go have tea time.” And with my son, it’s “let’s go play airplanes.” For me, that’s my detox time. I also work out at Impact Performance and Fitness to relieve stress.
Q: Tell us about your Southlake gym, Impact Performance and Fitness.
A: It’s been really interesting to see certain guys prepare for the season. Let’s say a basketball player comes in. You get to see what he’s doing and what kind of workout he has. He’s not going to be in there pumping the weights like me, but you’ll see the more lateral movements and the hand-eye coordination that he uses to prepare for the game. It’s awesome just to be at a good gym.
Q: What's your favorite Cowboys memory?
A: Getting drafted. On Draft Day, Bill Parcells calls and says: “Welcome to the Cowboys.” I said, “Oh man! I’m actually going to be a Cowboy!” So I think that was my biggest moment. After all my hard work in high school and college, and then being able to make NFL for the Cowboys
Q: What is Jerry Jones like?
A: He’s one of those guys where you look at him and he’s not exactly what you see. He’s a great family guy. Some of his testimonies really strike home.
Q: What drives you?
A: God. I look to God for foundation. The naysayers also drive me – when people say what I can’t do. I let that negativity build into some type of positivity and then let it propel me to where I need to be.
Q: Do you have a favorite Bible verse or quote?
A: One of my favorites is: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” You go through some times in your life, and that's what you need. You really have to lean on it and let the Word in your life. You can read it all you want to. You can pray all you want to. But the main thing is to live it.
Q: You're involved in a number of youth-focused charities in the DFW area. Why are these causes special to you?
A: To me, it’s about giving kids a second chance. A lot of people can't wake up every morning and have breakfast. They don't have the opportunity to put on nice clothes. When you give people a second chance, you never know where it'll take them.
Q: Tell us about your kids, Marley (7) and DeMarcus Jr. (4). What are their personalities like?
A: They have two different personalities. Marley is calm and relaxed. She’s a girly girl but she likes Batman. She’s the best of both worlds. My son is straight boy. He’s like, “Dad, let’s play airplanes. Look at the Mustang GT!” They’re different but they get along really well. They’re my pride and joy, and they’re what keep me going.
Q: What has surprised you about being a dad?
A: Responsibility. Some people say you have to be a disciplinarian, but at the end of the day, you just lead by example. A lot of people say, “I want my kid to have what I didn’t have.” I think it’s about how much time you can spend with your kids to let them realize how important [it] is. I’m trying to leave a good legacy for my kids and just keep moving forward.
Q: You're a Southlake resident. What do you enjoy most about this community?
A: I like the camaraderie around the Southlake area. It’s the same here. You get people coming up to you and saying, “How ya doing today? Do you need anything?” Everyone is welcoming here. It’s a great community.