49ers CB Charvarius Ward may not return to San Francisco for heartbreaking reasons

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward is set to hit free agency this offseason after a difficult 2024 season off the field.

Ward and his wife announced the death of their daughter Amani Joy in October. She had struggled with heart problems since birth and died at one year old.

“She was the best blessing we could have asked for and her happy spirit made us smile from ear to ear,” Ward wrote on Instagram back in October. “She taught us to have patience, trust and a positive outlook on life. She showed us true strength and bravery. She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy and 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. She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl. We will miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”

Now, as Ward enters free agency, he told reporters Monday that he might not return to the 49ers in 2025 — but the decision would have nothing to do with the team.

Ward says his decision to potentially leave San Francisco may have to do with the PTSD he and his wife have suffered from the state of California.

“I had a lot of trauma in California,” Ward said, speaking eloquently at his locker about his daughter’s death. “I had a lot of great times, but the worst thing that ever happened to me … happened in California.

“Just brings back bad memories. Every time I get on a plane and come back to California — Santa Clara, San Jose — it just brings back bad memories. I go through it every day.”

Ward added that his wife does not want to come back to California for that reason, so Ward has been dealing with this alone. However, he does not want to continue to deal with it alone, which may cause him to leave San Francisco.

“I get PTSD a lot,” Ward said. “I throw up, wake up in the middle of the night and sweat all the time. Stuff like that.”

Ward added that he loves the 49ers and knows the team loves him, and he would still be open to returning to the 49ers if he could “overcome a lot of that trauma.”

Ward signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the 49ers in March 2022. He made the Pro Bowl and finished Second-Team All-Pro in 2023 when he had five interceptions and led the league with 23 pass breakups.

During his three seasons in San Francisco, he has appeared in 46 games and secured 213 tackles, six tackles for loss, six interceptions and 41 pass breakups.

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