From a pure football aspect, one might have found themselves getting frustrated with Charvarius Ward Sr. He wasn't playing poorly for the Indianapolis Colts, but he also wasn't playing very much due to suffering three different concussions. The injuries weren't his fault, of course, but sometimes players aren't seen as real people.
Ward reminded the universe that he is a real person at training camp on Thursday. As he has been throughout his season-plus time with the Colts, he was honest and transparent, and, well...real. He isn't just a football player. He has a family, and interests beyond his day job.
He was also ready to quit last season after all those concussions. He told the media during training camp while holding his young child, "It felt like I belong out here. I was probably like 85% sure I was gonna retire. But I found a different ‘why,’ a different purpose. Doing it for Jr., doing it for Amani, my daughter. They bring me joy."
Charvarius Ward makes being an Indianapolis Colts fan a better experience
His daughter, Amani, unfortunately died in 2024, when the cornerback was still with the San Francisco 49ers. She died from heart-related issues. That alone could make any person decide not to keep doing their job or anything else. The loss is unimaginable.
But it is Ward's openness with the press and fans that makes him worth pulling for, even when the team might be losing or he isn't able to play due to an injury. The cornerback is very good at what he does, and coupled with Sauce Gardner, could form one of the best cornerback duos in the NFL. That doesn't mean he stops being a human once he leaves the field.
Fans choose the teams they want to spend money on by buying tickets and merchandise, of course. Sometimes, players on those teams seem a bit unworthy of being followed, and yet fans still do. Charvarius "Mooney" Ward is quite obvious. He doesn't just make himself more empathetic and interesting; he helps the Indianapolis Colts be a better follow, too.
Now, of course, the hope for the rest of 2026 is that Ward is happy and healthy off the field, but he is on the field, too. He is signed for three seasons, though his first season wasn't the kind anyone wanted, including himself.
He could have quit, but he didn't. He wants to perform well, and he wants the team to win. That sure does make it easier for those football fans looking for a team to root for to get behind the Colts. If nothing else, for Charvarius Ward alone.
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