NFL free agent Charvarius Ward unsure about staying with 49ers after ‘bad memories’ of 1-year-old daughter’s death

Grieving San Francisco cornerback Charvarius Ward balked when asked about re-signing with the 49ers next season, admitting he’s had “a lot of trauma in California” since the tragic death of his 1-year-old daughter Amani Joy.

“I’ve had a lot of great times, but the worst thing that ever happened to me, that will probably ever happen to me – knock on wood – happened in California,” Ward said. ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. ‘It can only bring back bad memories. Every time I get on a plane and come back to California, Santa Clara, San Jose, and show up here, it just brings back bad memories.”

Ward lived on his own while with the team and says girlfriend Monique Cook has stayed away from the Santa Clara area due to lingering pain since Amani Joy passed away in October after a battle with heart problems.

True, since the tragedy he has suffered from post-traumatic stress, night sitting and even vomiting.

“I experience that every day,” Ward said. “I go home alone every night because my girl doesn’t want to go back to California because of what happened. So it’s hard to be alone, and she’s my strength right now. I need her, and if I can’t be near me when I’m in California, it would be hard.

The couple announced Amani’s death on Instagram on October 29. She was born prematurely in November 2022 and was scheduled to undergo open-heart surgery in April 2023.

Amani was born prematurely with Down syndrome and had several health problems

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

Ward took three weeks away from the team after her death before playing in five of the final six games of the season, leaving only in late December to return to Dallas for the birth of his son, Charvarius Jr.

That pregnancy was just as complicated, and as Ward revealed Monday, the couple almost lost the child before Amani’s death in October.

After months of anxiety, followed by the joyful birth of his son, Ward is understandably exhausted as he heads into 2025.

“It took everything physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually,” Ward said of the past year. “It took all of that every day for me to be able to come here and practice. Half the time I didn’t go to meetings. My social battery was so low. It was just hard to be around people. I didn’t want people to feel sorry for me and all that. I just tried to show up and be there for my teammates.”

Despite everything, Ward insists he is ‘the most motivated’ he has ever led to 2025, but he still doesn’t know where he will play football.

An undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee State in 2018, Ward became a productive cornerback for both the Kansas City Chiefs and 49ers over the past seven seasons, with 10 interceptions in 88 starts and 101 appearances.

A Pro Bowl selection in 2023, Ward was also part of the Chiefs team that defeated the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV five years ago and played for San Francisco in last February’s Super Bowl loss to Kansas City.

Ward and Cook released a statement in October following Amani’s death.

“We are heartbroken that our beautiful girl, Amani Joy, passed away Monday morning,” Ward wrote. “She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her cheerful spirit made us smile from ear to ear.”

‘She taught us patience, confidence and a positive outlook on life. She showed us true strength and courage. She overcame adversity at a young age and was always cheerful. She lit 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,” Ward added. “She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl. We will miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”