San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward is set to hit free agency this offseason after a difficult 2024 season off the field.
Ward and his wife announced the death of their daughter, Amani Joy, in October. She had been battling heart problems since birth, and died at one years old.
“She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear,” Ward wrote on Instagram back in October. “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.”
Now, as Ward enters free agency, he told reporters Monday that he may not return to the 49ers in 2025 — but the decision would have nothing to do with the team.
Charvarius Mooney Ward goes into detail about potentially coming back to the #49ers next year, but also the PTSD he has from being here and the trauma he suffered of losing a child. pic.twitter.com/5hXhtxDjxN
— Matt Lively (@mattblively) January 6, 2025
Ward says his decision to potentially leave San Francisco could have to do with the PTSD he and his wife have suffered from the state of California.
“I got a lot of trauma in California,” Ward said as he eloquently spoke at his locker about the death of his daughter. “I had a lot of great times, but the worst thing that’s ever happened to me … happened in California.
“Just bringing up bad memories. Every time I get on a plane and come back to California — Santa Clara, San Jose — it just brings up bad memories. I go through that every day.”
Ward added that his wife doesn’t want to come back to California for that reason, so Ward has been dealing with this alone. However, he doesn’t want to continue dealing with it alone, which could lead him to leave San Francisco.
“I get PTSD a lot,” Ward said. “I be throwing up, waking up in the middle of the night all the time sweating. Stuff like that.”
Ward did add that he loves the 49ers and knows the team loves him, and would still be open to returning to the 49ers if he could “overcome a lot of that trauma.”
Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Ward signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the 49ers in March 2022. He made the Pro Bowl and finished Second-Team All-Pro in 2023, as he had five interceptions and led the league with 23 pass deflections.
Across his three seasons in San Francisco, he’s appeared in 46 games, securing 213 tackles, six tackles for loss, six interceptions, and 41 pass deflections.
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