Former Cowboys and Broncos All-Pro DeMarcus Ware is retiring from the NFL, but it's not because his body is telling him to.
In an exclusive interview with The MMQB Tuesday, Ware opened up about why he felt it was time to call it quits.
“You go through so much as a player to keep playing—for me lately, the neck injury, the back injury—and then you correct those things,” Ware told The MMQB.
“And right now as a I stand here, my body feels great. My body feels youthful. There is no question in my mind that I could have played two or three more years. But I’m realistic about it. My body’s good now, but how long will that last? How long can your body hold up at 34, 35, when what you do is likely to hurt yourself?”
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It wasn't like Ware's ability was tailing off. He played extremely well in Denver's postseason run in 2015, including had two sacks in the Broncos Super Bowl win over the Panthers. He reportedly had interest around the league, including a $9 million offer for 2017, per The MMQB.
But still, Ware knows he has a life after football.
“How many times when I go through a full season do I feel great from start to finish? It’s hard," Ware said.
"Football has been great for me. I love football. Always will. Heck yeah, I want to get out there and play. But I can’t let passion overrule my sense. I am walking away with respect. I gave the fans, I gave my family, I gave my teammates, everything I had every game. One hundred percent. One … hundred … percent.”
Ware finishes his career with 138.5 sacks, good for eighth on the all-time list.