Overview
- Ward said on Wednesday that he has rejoined the Colts' voluntary offseason program and is returning to play in 2026 after stepping away mentally last season.
- He revealed that his daughter Amani Joy died in October 2024 and that the grief weighed heavily on him through the 2025 season.
- Ward suffered three documented concussions in 2025, missed 10 games, and described his post-concussion symptoms as traumatic.
- He considered retiring after 2025 but moved his family to Indianapolis, focused on mental-health and spiritual work, and now aims to return to upper-echelon form alongside teammates such as Sauce Gardner.
- Ward said he hopes to avoid further brain injury and may wear a guardian cap in 2026, a choice that highlights ongoing questions about concussion prevention and player safety in the NFL.