Charvarius Ward didn't completely rule out the possibility of returning to San Francisco next season, but the 49ers cornerback looks like a man looking for a fresh start after going through one of the toughest times of his life. It sounded like.
Ward, 28, is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March after spending the past three seasons with the 49ers.
The tragic death of his daughter Amani Joy, just shy of her second birthday, cast a dark cloud over Ward's final season in the Bay Area, he told reporters.
Joy passed away after a battle with heart disease. According to ESPNand the tragedy left Ward with “a great trauma in California.”
“I had a lot of great times, but the worst thing that has ever happened to me, and probably the worst thing that will ever happen to me, a knock on wood, happened in California,” Ward said. “It might just bring back bad memories. Every time I get on a plane and go back to California, Santa Clara, San Jose and show up here, it brings back bad memories.
“I go through it every day. I go home alone every night because my daughter doesn't want to go back to California because of what happened. So it's hard to be alone and now She's my strength. I need her, so if I'm in California and she can't be by my side, it's going to be tough.”
Ward announced his daughter's death in an Instagram post on October 29, and stepped away from the team in the wake of the tragedy.
He missed three games but returned for the 49ers' game against the Bills last month.
Ward said he still struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder.
“You're throwing up, you're waking up in the middle of the night, you're sweating all the time. That stuff. It's tough,” he said.
Ward finished the 2024 season with 54 total tackles.
There was some optimism that he could come back, as the Niners have expressed a desire to bring him back.
“I'm sure we'll get through this. [eventually]but you get it,” he said.
