NFL legend DeMarcus Ware takes crack at national anthem before Hall of Fame Game

Ware won Super Bowl with Broncos, played several seasons with Cowboys

By the end of the weekend, NFL great DeMarcus Ware will be able to call himself a Pro Football Hall of Famer. He will also be among the relatively few people who have sung the national anthem before a game.

Ware will be celebrated for his prowess on the field with the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos this weekend as he gets enshrined in Canton. He made an appearance at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, and before the New York Jets took on the Cleveland Browns, he sang "The Star-Spangled Banner."

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nfl legend demarcus ware takes crack at national anthem before hall of fame game

Dallas Cowboys' DeMarcus Ware celebrates a touchdown against the New York Jets, Sept. 11, 2011, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

The NFL world was intrigued by Ware’s performance.

The defensive great was a nine-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro selection during his career. He won the Super Bowl with the Broncos during the 2015 season.

He led the NFL in sacks twice during his career. He finished with 138.5 sacks and 657 tackles. He had two fumble returns for a touchdown – one in 2006 and the other in 2010.

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nfl legend demarcus ware takes crack at national anthem before hall of fame game

Denver Broncos' DeMarcus Ware is shown during drills at the team's training camp, Aug. 6, 2015, in Englewood, Colorado. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Ware told the Dallas Morning-News before his rendition that he and his late Broncos teammate, Demaryius Thomas, would sing the anthem on the sideline before games. Thomas died in 2021. Ware said he was going to sing it for him.

"You can never be ready for that," he told the paper. "There’s ways you can prepare for it and have ample amount of vocal lessons. But when you get up there and when the crowd goes silent, it’s your turn to get up there and sing to the whole United States of America on what it stands for. And that is huge."

Ware said he was more nervous to sing the national anthem than to play the Super Bowl.

"This is the most nervous that I have ever been in my life, and I haven’t even gotten there yet," he said.

nfl legend demarcus ware takes crack at national anthem before hall of fame game

Dallas Cowboys' DeMarcus Ware is shown in action against the Arizona Cardinals, Dec. 4, 2011, in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Paul Connors, File)

Ware did just fine.

Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

Authored by Ryan Gaydos via FoxNews August 3rd 2023