Jimmie Ward

Jimmie Ward's Biography

James Ward is a professional football safety player who was born on July 18, 1991, in Racine, Wisconsin. The promising young sportsman currently plays for the Houston Texans in the National Football League (NFL). Ward, who played college football at Northern Illinois University, was scouted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft.

Growing up, he attended Davidson High School in Mobile, Alabama, leading his high school team, the Warriors, in tackles and earning team Defensive MVP honors during his senior year. Ward is also a cousin of former NBA player Caron Butler, which testifies to the impressive athletic ability running in the family. Ward set foot in Northern Illinois University in 2010, gaining recognition as a special teams player and freshman of the year. His immaculate performances led him to an invitation to the NFL combine.

Due to a stress fracture in his foot discovered just before the combine, Ward was unable to participate in running or jumping drills. However, he demonstrated his determination by deciding to play at Northern Illinois’ pro day, despite his injury. He successfully performed all of the combine drills except for the bench press. This resilience secured him a place as the top strong safety prospect in the draft by NFLDraftScout.com and as the third-best safety prospect by NFL analyst Mike Mayock and Sports Illustrated.

Ward was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. However, he faced a setback after a quad injury and a foot injury during the season. Yet despite these obstacles, Ward finished his rookie year with 20 combined tackles (19 solo) and two pass deflections in his eight games. In 2016, Ward was converted to a full-time cornerback and was named the starting cornerback for the 2016 season.

The following seasons saw Ward facing and overcoming several injuries, which included a fractured forearm and a broken forearm. Despite these setbacks, the resilient sportsman managed to perform impressively and was consistently appreciated for his efforts. His performance in the Super Bowl LIV against the Kansas City Chiefs, where he recorded a team-high 11 tackles, earned him recognition.

In an impressive professional leap, Ward signed a three-year contract extension worth $28.5 million with the 49ers in 2020. He continued to excel in his new role, notably forcing fumbles against Rams players Jared Goff and Malcolm Brown that proved instrumental in leading the 49ers to a 23–20 win in Week 12.

In 2023, Ward signed a two-year contract with the Houston Texans and was named a team captain in his first season. However, he missed the start of the 2023 season due to a hip injury. Despite this, Ward once again proved his worth by recording an interception to secure a victory for the Texans in Week 13 against the Broncos. His successful career with the Texans led to him signing a one-year contract extension in August 2024.

In conclusion, James Ward is an American football safety whose career, marked by resilience and determination, inspires many aspiring athletes. Despite numerous challenges and injuries, Ward continues to deliver strong performance after strong performance, making his mark in the National Football League.