San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward is currently in his sixth NFL season. Since entering the league, Ward has appeared in 90 games notching 381 combined tackles, eight tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, three forced fumbles, 63 passes defended and 10 interceptions.
"Great corners make the game seem easy," safety Logan Ryan said. "(Ward) makes the game seem easy... It's just the confidence."
Keep reading to learn more about San Francisco's cornerback.
Ward started his collegiate football career at Hinds Community College, where he had 64 tackles and four interceptions in two seasons (2014-2015) before transferring to a Division I football program at Middle Tennessee State. As a Blue Raider, Ward recorded 74 total tackles, 21 passes defensed and two interceptions in 25 games. However, the cornerback ended up going undrafted before signing with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent in 2018.
"I came a long way being undrafted, being overlooked," Ward said. "I came a long way, I've gotten better and better every year and I feel like I can still keep getting better, so I'm proud of myself for that."
Ward sported a No. 2 jersey while playing for Middle Tennessee State because he was a fan of 49ers veteran cornerback Jason Verrett, who at the time was playing for the Los Angeles Chargers.
"I've been a fan of JV since I was in college," Ward said. "I wore the No. 2 in college because of Jason Verrett. I've been a fan of his. He's been dropping knowledge on us... He's a big dog for sure."
During Week 12 of the 2023 season, Ward continued his heartwarming tradition of giving back to his hometown of McComb, Mississippi. For the third-consecutive year, the cornerback organized the Charvarius Ward Turkey Giveaway, a community-driven event that has become a staple in the region.
In collaboration with the Mississippi Food Network and the Boys and Girls Club of McComb, Ward's Change with Charvarius Foundation has made a significant impact on the lives of local families. Over the past three years, Ward's foundation has donated $31,000, reflecting his commitment to making a positive difference in the community that shaped him.
"It's near and dear to my heart," Ward said. "I'm probably one of the few people to make it big out of the city, so I always try to go back home and support the community. It just feels good to be able to do it. Everybody back home, they look up to me... The kids love me, the adults that helped raise me love me, so it's a good feeling to be able to do that every year."
This year, Ward contributed $11,000 to cover the costs of 350 turkeys and 350 fresh produce boxes. His contribution ensured that more than 400 families would be able to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.
When the cornerback does find time to escape from football, his favorite hobbies include reading and watching cartoons. His favorite genre of books are romance, mystery and suspense and his favorite authors are Colleen Hoover and Nicholas Sparks.
"I love Verity, that's a top three book of all time," Ward said in a 49ers Cart Talk. "I read a lot of books. I've read at least eight of her (Hoover's) books."
When it comes to cartoons, his go-to is Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants.
"I love cartoons. SpongeBob is top-two of all time. I like SpongeBob and Family Guy, some of the old school shows like Ed, Edd n Eddy. I'm just a big kid."
This season, Ward earned his first-career Pro Bowl selection.
In 17 starts this season, he has recorded 72 tackles (two for loss), 23 passes defensed, a career-high five interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown and one forced fumble. His 23 passes defensed mark a career-high and rank first in the NFL while his five interceptions are tied for the fourth-most in the league.
