One former All-Pro selection may be calling an early end to his football career.
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Charvarius Ward revealed to reporters on Monday that he is considering retirement, per James Boyd of The Athletic. Ward noted the multiple concussions that he suffered this season and added that his father wants him to retire.
Still only 29 years old, Ward entered the league as an undrafted rookie in 2018 and spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. He won Super Bowl LIV with them in the 2019 season and also made headlines for taunting some of the NFL’s best receivers.
Ward then signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency, earning both Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 2023. After two seasons in San Francisco, Ward went on to sign a three-year, $54 million contract with the Colts before the 2025 season.
But Ward’s debut season for the Colts was marred by those concussion problems. He suffered three different concussions over the course of the year, resulting in just seven total games played. One of Ward’s particularly brutal concussions came in October when he collided with a teammate in warmups while he wasn’t wearing a helmet (see the video here).
While Ward still has two years left under his contract with Indianapolis, he also dealt with a heartbreaking tragedy in his personal life a little while back. Now Ward is thinking about giving up football altogether and retiring from the NFL before his 30th birthday.
