Super Bowl winner Charvarius Ward opens up on heartbreaking death of baby daughter as he plans a fresh start with his new team

Super Bowl winner Charvarius Ward opens up on heartbreaking death of baby daughter as he plans a fresh start with his new team

New Colts signing Charvarius Ward opened up last week about the heartbreaking death of his baby daughter, saying the tragic loss ultimately drove him to leave the 49ers.

Ward and his girlfriend, Monique Cook announced the death of their one-year-old daughter Amani Joy on October 29. 

She had been born prematurely in November of 2022 with Down syndrome and faced numerous health issues, as she went through open-heart surgery in April of 2023.

The cornerback previously spoke about the trauma he endured being in California following Amani’s death, and told reporters at his first Colts press conference that he ‘had to get out of San Francisco.’

‘Honestly man, it was a lot of PTSD out there, really was just painful to be out there,’ he said. 

‘Mentally, every day was draining. It took a lot in me to go back to San Francisco. The only reason I went back… I thought we was gonna turn it around… and I [wanted] to go be there for my brothers.’

Charvarius Ward spoke with reporters last week for the first time as a member of the Colts

Charvarius Ward spoke with reporters last week for the first time as a member of the Colts

Amani was born premature with Down syndrome and had suffered with a number of health issue The tot underwent open-heart surgery on April 11, 2023

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

Ward and Cook’s daughter, Amani Joy, sadly pᴀssed away just before she turned two  

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.

Meanwhile, Monique stayed away from Santa Clara after Amani’s death, meaning Ward lived by himself.

‘Mentally, I was in Texas with my family,’ he added. ‘Physically, I was in Santa Clara with the 49ers. You gotta be where your feet are and I wasn’t where my feet was last season.’

Monique’s pregnancy with Charvarius Jr. also complicated, as the couple nearly lost the child prior to Amani’s death in October, which Ward revealed to ESPN in January.

Ward, who signed a three-year, $54million deal with the Colts according to Spotrac, said he had regained his ‘hunger’ for the game and was eager to re-establish himself as one of the league’s best secondary players.

Ward was named a Pro Bowler in 2023 as part of a stout 49ers defense which helped the team reach the Super Bowl.

He also won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs during the 2019 season, serving as a starter for Kansas City in his second season after going undrafted.

Ward was not picked out of Middle Tennessee State in 2018 but has gone on to become a productive cornerback in the NFL.

Over the last seven seasons, he’s recorded 10 interceptions across 88 starts and 101 appearances.

Related Posts

Johnny Manziel leads pack of sports stars taking part in season four of Special Forces

Johnny Manziel leads pack of sports stars taking part in season four of Special Forces

Former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel headlines the pack of sports stars taking part in season four of Fox reality compeтιтion Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, which premiers next…

NFL confirms major loophole in new ban on smelling salts and other ammonia inhalants

NFL confirms major loophole in new ban on smelling salts and other ammonia inhalants

NFL players gripping their contraband smelling salts like winning lottery tickets can relax: the league won’t ban the inhalants. The players’ union sent a memo to members…

Dallas Cowboys backup QB Joe Milton easily tops NFL ‘record’ during scrimmage with Los Angeles Rams

Dallas Cowboys backup QB Joe Milton easily tops NFL ‘record’ during scrimmage with Los Angeles Rams

The Cowboys’ offseason trade for Patriots backup Joe Milton wasn’t supposed to start a quarterback controversy in Dallas, given the status of entrenched $240 million starter Dak…

Travis Kelce glad to escape Taylor Swift attention in ‘sanctuary’ of Kansas City Chiefs camp

Travis Kelce glad to escape Taylor Swift attention in ‘sanctuary’ of Kansas City Chiefs camp

Kansas City Chiefs тιԍнт end Travis Kelce is glad to escape the mᴀssive attention he gets as Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, calling the team’s training camp a ‘sanctuary’…

Revealed: Why Kansas City Chiefs welcomed a sworn enemy into camp… and he was even wearing team uniform

Revealed: Why Kansas City Chiefs welcomed a sworn enemy into camp… and he was even wearing team uniform

The Kansas City Chiefs have brought former Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce to training camp despite being a former sworn enemy due to his vast defensive…

Machine Gun Kelly reveals somber Taylor Swift Super Bowl chat as Travis Kelce and the Chiefs were getting beat

Machine Gun Kelly reveals somber Taylor Swift Super Bowl chat as Travis Kelce and the Chiefs were getting beat

The Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIX loss was devastating for Travis Kelce, but it was a sad night for Machine Gun Kelly as well. The musician, who grew…