Charvarius Ward admitted what most players generally will not, that he was not mentally into playing football in 2024.
The now-former San Francisco 49ers cornerback opened up to The Athletic’s Mike Silver about his traumatic 2024 season that led him to check out mentally from the team
Ward, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent in March, had a huge regression season in 2024. After making the Pro Bowl, and earning second-team All-Pro honors, in 2023, Ward did not register an interception and defended just seven passes — after leading the NFC with 23 in 2023.
Yet, what Ward did not disclose until recently was what he went through emotionally and with his family in his now-final season in the Bay Area.
What Did Charvarius Ward Say About His 2024 Season?
Professionals are supposed to check their emotional state while doing their job. But some things are too hard to block out.
Ward and his wife Monique Cook lost their 1-year-old daughter Amani in October, after she struggled through Down syndrome and heart defect. According to Silver, Ward went to a dark place after the death of daughter.
“Once I came back, every game after that, I was just like, âI donât give a fâ what happens,’” Ward told The Athletic. “‘I donât care if I win this rep; I donât care if I lose this rep.â I was there physically, but mentally, I was somewhere off the grid, off the globe.”
Ward admitted his struggles a season ago to Silver as well.
“Itâs been hard for me personally to go to work every day, every game â even to practice or go to meetings,” Ward said in December. “I almost left a couple of times. I know fans probably hate me (for saying that), but fâ it, itâs real life.”
Yet, when Silver checked in on him in Indianapolis, where he signed a three-year, $60 million contract that featured about $35 million in guaranteed money, Ward had found peace. His wife had the couple’s second child, Charvarius Jr., earlier this year, and he has a fresh start in Indy.
“Iâm doing good, man â physically, mentally and emotionally. Iâm doing way better than what I was,” Ward said. “At first, it was hard to see the light at the end of that tunnel, but I kind of got my joy back, my happiness back, my smile back, and everything like that. Iâve got a lot of optimism right now.”
What Did Charvarius Ward Say About Leaving San Francisco?
Ward has re-found his smile in Indianapolis, and he described when his malaise began.
“Even before everything happened with my baby, I really wasnât super motivated,” Ward said. “After the year I had in â23, I wanted a contract extension â because I wanted to stay â and I knew I wasnât getting a contract offer. They came to me and kind of told me what it was, âcause they had (other) people to pay. So it kind of had me in my feelings a little bit. I just never made it public.
“I was hurt when I realized I wasnât getting a contract extension or even an offer for an extension. So, I wasnât motivated; like, from OTAs all the way through camp, I was kind of pissed off. I knew when the season started it was a wrap for me in the Bay.”
Despite the frustration about not getting extended, Ward harbors no hard feelings toward coach Kyle Shanahan or GM John Lynch.
“They kept it real all year,” he said. “They never hid anything from me, so thatâs why I respect those guys. Itâs all love.”
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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