Charvarius Ward unsure of return to 49ers after traumatic year
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- After what he called the most difficult year of his life, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward will carry a heavy heart into unrestricted free agency in March.
Ward's life turned upside down in late October when his daughter, Amani Joy, died just before her second birthday after a lengthy battle with heart issues. On Monday, the day after the Niners' season ended at 6-11, Ward spoke publicly for the first time about how difficult this season has been for him and his family, what it means for his future in San Francisco and what might be next.
During the roughly 10-minute conversation, Ward didn't completely rule out a return to the 49ers, but he acknowledged that a more probable outcome is a fresh start elsewhere, somewhere the pain of his daughter's loss isn't so prevalent.
"I've got a lot of trauma in California," Ward said. "I had a lot of great times, but the worst thing that's ever happened to me, that's probably going to ever happen to me -- knock on wood -- happened in California. It can just bring up bad memories. Every time I get on a plane and come back to California, Santa Clara, San Jose, and show up here, it just brings up bad memories.
"I go through that every day. I go home every night by myself because my girl, she doesn't want to come back to California because of what happened. So, it is hard being alone, and she's my strength right now. I need her, and so her not being able to be around me if I'm in California, it'd be tough."
Ward said Monday he still suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder from his daughter's death, which leads to waking up in a sweat in the middle of the night as well as occasional vomiting.
After announcing Amani's death on Instagram on Oct. 29, Ward took time away from the team, sitting out three games before returning to the field on Dec. 1 against the Buffalo Bills. He played in five of the final six games of the season, sitting out only the Dec. 30 loss to the Detroit Lions so he could return to Dallas for the birth of a son, Charvarius Jr.
That moment of happiness was a welcome respite in a season Ward called the worst of his career. He attributed his struggles on the field to what he was going through off it. Ward revealed Monday that he and his girlfriend nearly lost their son early in the pregnancy before Amani died. After earning his first Pro Bowl nod and a second-team All-Pro spot in 2023 -- when he had 72 tackles, five interceptions and a forced fumble -- Ward had 54 tackles, no interceptions and no forced fumbles in 12 games in 2024.
"It took everything physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually," Ward said. "It took all of that every day for me to just come here and be able to practice. I wasn't going to meetings half the time. My social battery was so low. It was just hard being around people. I didn't want people to feel sorry for me and everything like that. I just tried to show up and be there for my teammates."
With the season over, Ward said he would be "the most motivated I've ever been" going into 2025. The answer he doesn't yet have is where that will take place. The 49ers signed Ward to a three-year, $42.5 million deal on March 17, 2022, and immediately installed him as their top corner.
For the first two seasons of that deal, Ward played what he called Monday the best football of his career. Had he been entering free agency coming off those years, Ward estimates that he'd have been "one of the highest paid corners in the game." Since that didn't happen, Ward is unsure of how he will be valued when he hits the open market again.
Complicating a return to San Francisco further is the fact that the 49ers signed fellow cornerback Deommodore Lenoir to a five-year extension worth up to $92 million in November and rookie corner Renardo Green made a strong impression in his first NFL season.
According to Ward, 49ers general manager John Lynch expressed interest in bringing him back but both sides understand it will come down to what kind of offers the 28-year-old corner might receive elsewhere.
"I think they went into this season thinking they wasn't going to be able to afford me based off the way I played last year," Ward said. "If they can afford me, there's a chance I can come back, but they may not be able to afford me."
The pull of family also figures into Ward's free agency. He said he would "love" to be back home in Dallas or somewhere in the south that isn't far from there. Asked whether he viewed Monday as a "final goodbye" to the 49ers, Ward shook his head in the affirmative and said it did "kind of feel like that."
Before he left, he made sure to dole out handshakes and hugs to teammates and support staff. He emphasized the strong relationships he built throughout the building and how much appreciation he had for the Niners allowing him to take his time to return to football. He also carefully signed jerseys for teammates and took some of theirs with him, including one from linebacker Fred Warner.
As Ward walked off into the uncertainty of the offseason, there was only one thing he knew for sure he wanted in whatever comes next.
"I just want to go somewhere where I'm wanted and where I'm loved," Ward said. "I feel like that's what I need right now, a lot of love."
49ers’ Charvarius Ward still dealing with PTSD after loss of daughter, may leave team in free agency because of it
Charvarius Ward's time with the San Francisco 49ers may be coming to an end this offseason.
As the cornerback decides what's next for him in his NFL career entering free agency, he revealed on Monday that he may not want to return to the Bay Area at all next season. The heartbreaking reason, he said, isn't because of anything the 49ers did.
Instead, it's because of the PTSD he said he's still dealing with after the loss of his 1-year-old daughter a few months ago.
Ward announced in October that his daughter, Amani Joy, had died. No cause of death was given. She was born with two holes in her heart, he revealed last year, and needed surgery. He had previously announced that she was born with Down syndrome, too.
Ward said that his wife has left the state in the wake of losing their daughter, and that loss is still hitting him extremely hard even months later. He’s been living alone to finish out the season.
“I get PTSD a lot,” he said. “I be throwing up, waking up in the middle of the night all the time sweating. Stuff like that. It’s tough.”
Ward recorded 54 total tackles last season, his third with the 49ers. He got his start with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018 after going undrafted out of Middle Tennessee State. The 29-year-old picked up his first Pro Bowl nod last season. Ward signed a three-year, $40.5 million deal to join the 49ers ahead of the 2022 campaign.
Though he said he wasn’t totally against signing a new deal with the 49ers, he said that would likely be dependent on if “I can overcome a lot of that trauma.” If he had his choice, he said he’d prefer to play closer to his family.
“Stuff can change,” Ward said. “I can get stronger. I’ll probably get over this [eventually], but we’ll see.”
All about Charvarius Ward, 49ers cornerback for the 2024 Super Bowl
The San Francisco 49ers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in a heartbreaking overtime Super Bowl thriller Sunday night, 25-22.
The back-and-forth defensive battle found the two teams tied at 19 at the end of regulation after late field goals. The 49ers were forced to settle for a field goal in their first OT possession, giving the Chiefs the chance to become the first back-to-back Super Bowl champion in two decades.
More information on Super Bowl LVIII is available on live blogs being updated throughout the game at both CBS News and CBS Sports.
San Francisco 49ers Cornerback Charvarius Ward's appearance at the 2024 Super Bowl will be his third since joining the NFL in 2018. Here's everything you need to know about the Niners cornerback.
During the 2023-2024 regular season, Charvarius Ward played 17 games, intercepted 5 passes for 91 return yards and one touchdown.
Charvarius Ward has played 90 games, has intercepted 10 passes with 110 yards on interception returns and one touchdown.
Charvarius Ward signed a lucrative three-year deal worth $42 million with the 49ers in 2022. Ward secured $26.62 million in guarantees, with $18.06 million guaranteed upon signing. If he remains on the roster by April 1, 2023, an extra $8.56 million will become guaranteed. The contract includes two void years strategically structured for salary cap management.
Although Ward did not receive an invitation to the NFL combine, he persevered and entered the NFL when he was signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 2018. Ward was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs on August 31 of that year. In 2022, he signed a four-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
Yes. Ward played for the Kansas City Chiefs team that defeated the 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV in 2020. He was still on the Chiefs when the team returned to the Super Bowl the following year, when the team lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-9. Sunday marks his first return to the Super Bowl since then.
Ward initially enrolled at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi where he played for two years. He transferred to Middle Tennessee State University for his junior season, appearing in 12 games and starting two games. He made 26 tackles, 2 interceptions, defended 5 passes, forced one quarterback hurry and had one fumble recovery. As a senior, he played in 13 games and started eight of them, recording 48 tackles with three tackles for loss. He also had one sack and led the team with 14 passes defended.
Charvarius Ward is currently in a relationship with his girlfriend, Monique Cook. In November 2022 Monique gave birth to their daughter, Amani Joi Ward.
The 49ers mourn the death of CB Charvarius Ward’s 1-year-old daughter
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The 1-year-old daughter of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward has died after battling heart problems since her birth.
Ward posted on Instagram that his daughter, Amani Joy, died on Monday morning.
“She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear,” Ward wrote. “She taught us to have patience, trust, and a positive outlook on life. She showed us true strength and bravery. She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile. Having the privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes has changed us for the better. She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl. We’ll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”
Amani Joy Ward was born prematurely with Down syndrome and had open-heart surgery in April 2023.
The 49ers said in a statement that the team is “devastated” by her death.
“Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh,” the statement said. “We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique, while sending them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”
The 49ers are on their bye this week.
The 28-year-old Ward has started all 41 games since signing with the 49ers in 2022 and was voted second-team All-Pro last season. He played all but four defensive snaps in a win Sunday night against Dallas.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
San Francisco 49ers player Charvarius Ward announces death of 1-year-old daughter
NFL star Charvarius Ward shared the news that his 1-year-old daughter, Amani Joy, has died.
“We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy, passed away on Monday morning,” Ward, a cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers, wrote Oct. 29 alongside a photo of his daughter on Instagram.
“She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear,” Ward continued. “She taught us to have patience, trust, and a positive outlook on life. She showed us true strength and bravery. She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile.”
Ward’s daughter was born prematurely with Down syndrome and had suffered heart issues throughout her short life, according to KNTV, an NBC affiliate in the Bay Area. She underwent open-heart surgery in April 2023, the affiliate reported.
Ward concluded his heartbreaking tribute, “Having the privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes has changed us for the better.
"She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl. We’ll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”
Ward continued sharing his grief in his Instagram stories, writing “I’m broken" and adding four broken-heart emojis over a black background.
Above photos of Amani Joy, he wrote, “My Baby. My Life. My Queen. My Heart. My Everything,” including several more broken hearts.
The San Francisco 49ers commemorated Amani Joy’s death in a statement on X, writing, “The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy.”
The statement added that Amani “truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh.
“We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique, while sending them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”
