Jihad Ward

Jihad Ward is an American professional football player who was born on May 11, 1994. He is best known as a linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). His journey to the world of professional football, his career development, and personal life have been inspiring and noteworthy.

Ward’s football journey started fairly late compared to his peers. Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ward first played football during his sophomore year at Edward W. Bok Technical High School. Initially, he started as a wide receiver and safety, but found his groove when he was converted into a defensive end during his junior year. His talent shone through when he received second-team All-City (2010) and first-team All-City (2011) honors. In addition to football, Ward also showcased his skills in basketball during his high school years.

To improve his grades, Ward attended the Globe Institute of Technology for two years. In 2013, he played in 7 games, recording 26 tackles and 2 sacks. Sensing room for growth and development, Ward transferred to the University of Illinois in 2014. He got the opportunity to start as a defensive end during the fourth game of the season. An impactful player, Ward posted 51 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries, 2 forced fumbles, and defended one pass during his tenure at the University.

As a senior, he started all 12 games and registered 53 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He had a career-highlight performance against the University of Iowa, where he amassed 11 tackles, including nine solo. His last two years in college garnered him 104 tackles, 5.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and three passes defensed.

Prior to turning professional, Ward was projected to be a second or third round selection due to his above average athletic ability and size. Despite the projection, he was also seen as a developmental project who needed improvement in his strength and balance. Nonetheless, Ward received an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine and performed exceptionally well at Illinois’ Pro Day, arousing the interest of representatives and scouts from all 32 NFL teams.

The Oakland Raiders picked Ward in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft, despite concerns about a knee injury that required surgical intervention. In his rookie season, Ward played in 16 games and made 13 starts, finishing with 30 tackles. Unfortunately, his second year was marred by a foot surgery, which limited his participation to only five games.

The Dallas Cowboys acquired Ward in a trade in 2018, but he was waived during the final roster cuts. He found a new home with the Indianapolis Colts, got promoted to the active roster, but was placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury. Despite the setbacks, Ward managed to record three sacks during the six games played in the 2018 season.

The Baltimore Ravens signed Ward in 2019 and he played 14 games, recording one sack. He re-signed with the Ravens in 2020 but was placed on the reserve due to COVID-19. When he was activated, Ward had three sacks, 16 total tackles, and defended two passes in ten games.

In 2021, Ward signed a one-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, appearing in all 17 games, starting one, and recorded two sacks and 32 total tackles. In 2022, Ward joined the New York Giants with a one-year contract and registered a career-high of 43 tackles and three sacks in 17 games.

Ward re-signed with the Giants in 2023 and had a career-high of five sacks in 17 games. In 2024, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

Off the field, Ward is a practicing Muslim and has shared that his name, Jihad, which is common in his hometown, Philadelphia, has been misinterpreted due to its association with Islamic violence against non-Muslims. This connection has posed challenges for him but has not deterred him from achieving his goals in his professional football career.