Overview

• He lost his one-year-old daughter in October 2024 and said grief left him mentally checked out despite playing through the rest of the season.
• Ward revealed he was demotivated after the 49ers declined to offer an extension following his All-Pro performance in 2023.
• Pro Football Focus marked his drop from an 84.7 overall grade in 2023 to a career-low 56.2 in 2024, with coverage grades plunging similarly.
• He admitted he nearly left San Francisco multiple times for financial reasons before finishing the year and joining the Colts on a three-year, $54 million contract.
• Now in Indianapolis, Ward aims to reclaim All-Pro form and will confront his former team, the 49ers, on December 22.