Grieving San Francisco cornerback Charvarius Ward hesitated when asked about re-signing with the 49ers next season, admitting he has ‘a lot of trauma in California’ after the tragic death of his 1-year-old daughter Amani Joy.
‘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,’ Ward told ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. ‘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.’
Ward has been living by himself while with the team and says girlfriend Monique Cook has stayed away from the Santa Clara area due to the lingering pain since Amany Joy pᴀssed away in October after battling heart issues.
He’s admittedly battled post-traumatic stress, night seats and even vomiting since the tragedy.
‘I go through that every day,’ Ward said. ‘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.
The couple announced Amani’s death on Instagram on October 29. She had been born prematurely in November of 2022 and would go through open-heart surgery in April of 2023.
Charvarius Ward of the 49ers stands on the sidelines during the national anthem
Amani was born prematurely with Down syndrome and had suffered several health issues
Ward and Cook’s daughter, Amani Joy, sadly pᴀssed away just before she turned two
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Ward took three weeks away from the team after her death before playing in five of the last six games of the season, leaving only in late December to return to Dallas for the birth of his son, Charvarius Jr.
That pregnancy was equally complicated, and as Ward revealed Monday, the couple nearly lost the child prior to Amani’s death in October.
After months of anguish followed by the joyous birth of his son, Ward is understandably drained entering 2025.
‘It took everything physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually,’ Ward said of the last year. ‘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.’
Despite everything, Ward insists he is ‘the most motivated’ he’s ever been heading into 2025, but still doesn’t know where he’ll be playing football.
An undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee State in 2018, Ward became a productive cornerback for both the Kansas City Chiefs and 49ers over the last seven seasons, recording 10 interceptions across 88 starts and 101 appearances.
A Pro Bowl selection in 2023, Ward was also a member of the Chiefs team that beat the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV five years ago and played for San Francisco during last February’s Super Bowl defeat to Kansas City.
Ward and Cook released a statement in October following Amani’s pᴀssing.
‘We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy pᴀssed away on Monday morning,’ Ward wrote. ‘She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear.’
‘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,’ Ward added. ‘She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl. We’ll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.’
