INDIANAPOLIS – Charvarius Ward’s world was shaken to its core last October. Things would never be the same.
He needed a fresh start following the passing of his 1-year-old daughter Amani Joy, and that included distancing himself from Santa Clara, Calif., and the San Francisco 49ers.
Everywhere he turned, painful memories of Amani Joy were waiting.
The Indianapolis Colts offered that clean slate this week in the form of a three-year, $60 million contract.
“Good hospitality,’’ Ward said Thursday. “Everybody loves me right now. I’m lovin’ everybody. It’s pretty cool.’’
He mentioned that General Manager Chris Ballard’s aggressiveness influenced his free-agent decision, and that first-year defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo plans to maximize his versatile cover skills by allowing him to “travel with the best receivers.’’
“I just feel like I’m a CB1, a great cornerback.’’ Ward said.
His on-field pedigree is undeniable: two Super Bowl starts with the Kansas Chiefs, including a world championship after the 2019 season; second-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowl selection in 2023 with the Niners; 89 career starts after signing with Dallas as an undrafted rookie out of Middle Tennessee State in 2018.
Those incredible career highs became afterthoughts with the passing of Amani Joy and made it impossible for Ward to remain in Santa Clara.
He desperately needed a fresh start.
“Hell yeah,’’ Ward said. “I had to get out of San Francisco, honestly man. Feels like PTSD out there. Really was just painful to be out there. Mentally, every day was draining. It took a lot in me to go back to San Francisco.’’
Following the death of his daughter, Ward missed the Niner’s next three games following their bye. He started five of the final six games, but things weren’t – couldn’t be – the same.
“Definitely had to get out there, man,’’ he said. “It was hard every day. Mentally, I was in Texas with my family. Physically, I was in Santa Clara with the 49ers. You’ve got to be where your feet are. I wasn’t where my feet were last season. I definitely needed a fresh start. Like I said, I’m excited, thankful, happy, blessed, all the good things to be here. Hopefully it’s going to be a great spot for me.’’
Ballard has been adamant all offseason the Colts’ secondary required an upgrade.
The first step Monday afternoon was agreeing with safety Cam Bynum on a four-year, $60 million contract that includes $32 million in guarantees.
A few hours later, Ballard added Ward with a three-year deal that features $35 million in guarantees. It’s the richest free-agent contract he’s given out in his nine seasons at GM.
Additional depth came Friday in the form of veteran cornerback Corey Ballentine.
Ward was considered the best available cornerback when free agency began Monday at noon, and he initially thought he might be headed to New Orleans, which is roughly two hours from his hometown of McComb, Miss.
“I really thought I was going to New Orleans,’’ Ward said during a Thursday appearance on The Ride with JMV (107.5 FM). “The deal was almost done and the Colts, I guess they realized how great of a player I am. They came in and kind of beat out the Saints at the last minute.’’
That undoubtedly meant Ballard enhanced his initial offer to Ward.
Why were the Colts so aggressive and committed to signing him?
“Because I’m a great player,’’ Ward said.
That was the most on-point, brief comment he offered during Thursday’s introductory meeting with the local media. By the way, he prefers to be addressed as Mooney, a nickname given to him at an early age by his mom.
Every Ward does on the field is rooted in being the best in his one-on-one matchup, regardless the wideout.
“I feel like you have to have confidence in yourself and believe in yourself as a corner,’’ he said. “If you line up against any receiver in the league – obviously, there’s a lot of great receivers in the league – and you’ve got doubt and you’re playing not to get beat, I mean, most likely you’re gonna get beat. I just go out there knowing I’m the best. I’m better than the guy in front of me. That’s my mentality.’’
Anarumo should be enamored with the versatility and possibilities that come with the 6-1, 196-pound Ward.
“I can press, I can tackle, I can play off, I can travel with the best receivers,’’ Ward said. “I feel like I can do it all as a corner.’’
In 89 career starts and 102 games, Ward has 10 interceptions, 70 passes defended, three forced fumbles and nine tackles for loss.
He automatically steps in as one of Anarumo’s starting outside corners. His running mate figures to be either Jaylon Jones, who’s started 27 games, including all 17 last season, since being selected in the seventh round of the 2023 draft, or JuJu Brents, the 2023 second-round pick whose career has been impeded by injuries.
Kenny Moore II remains one of the NFL’s top nickel corners.
“I can fit in any scheme,’’ Ward said. “I think (Anarumo) said he’s going to let me travel with the best receivers. So, he’s going to let me press. He’s going to let me do my thing: Be physical and just be me. Be that guy they pay me to be. I go into every season trying to prove on Sunday . . . just to be flat-out the best Mooney I can be, the best me I can be.’’
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.