FRISCO, Texas – DeMarcus Ware believes the Cowboys are primed for Super Bowl contention, and he wants to help.
Not as a player – the Cowboys' all-time sack leader remains retired since the end of the 2016 season – but as a pass-rushing consultant of sorts.
"I always say I want to teach the championship mentality," he said. "If I could come here at least two or three days a week, teaching them Wednesdays and Thursdays, teach the pass rushers how to pass rush, stopping the run – but then I always help the offensive line, like (left tackle) Tyron Smith, with their technique (too)."
Ware and several other Cowboys alumni hosted Sunday's "Taste of the Cowboys" fundraiser benefiting North Texas Food Bank's Child Programs. The 15th annual event was held inside Ford Center at The Star in Frisco.
This, for Ware, is home.
He played the final three seasons of his 12-year career in Denver and won a Super Bowl with the Broncos in 2015. Last year he worked as a consultant for the Broncos but is no longer under contract with them, he said.
Ware compiled most of his Hall-of-Fame worthy career in Dallas. He tallied 117 sacks over nine seasons (2005-13) and made seven Pro Bowls in that span.
He has stopped by The Star before to work with Pro Bowler DeMarcus Lawrence and the team's pass rushers.
"We love DeMarcus Ware," Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said. "He's a special person. He was a special player for this organization for a number of years and everybody loves him. The coaches love him, his former teammates love him, obviously the Jones family loves him.
"We did talk about it (a consultant-type role) last year. It just has to work for both sides, what he's looking for, what we're looking for from a role like that. But suffice it to say he's always welcome, and if we get to a point where it makes sense for both sides, we'll definitely bring him back and get him involved. He's a special guy."
Based on his own workouts that he's posted on social media, the 36-year-old Ware hardly looks like an out-of-shape retiree. He admits he misses the locker room camaraderie but not the grind of an NFL season, however.
"I don't miss playing," he said. "Every once in a while I want to get to the quarterback, but I feel like my heart is not in football anymore. It's serving people."
Ware still keeps tabs on his old team and sees a group ready for the next step.
Perhaps he'll be around some during the year to offer advice.
"I feel like they have every single thing that they need to get to that championship game and close it out," he said. "I feel like this right here is that year. … I can't wait to see what they're going to do this year."
