San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward will enter 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 the age of one.

“She was the best blessing we could have asked for and her joyful spirit had us smiling from ear to ear,” Ward wrote on Instagram in October. “She taught us patience, trust and a positive attitude towards life. She showed us true strength and bravery. She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile.”

“The privilege of being their parents and seeing the world through their 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 that Ward is entering free agency, he told reporters on Monday that he may not return to the 49ers in 2025 — but the decision has nothing to do with the team.

Ward says his decision to potentially leave San Francisco may have to do with the post-traumatic stress disorder he and his wife suffered in the state of California.

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

“I just bring back bad memories. Every time I get on a plane and come back to California—Santa Clara, San Jose—only bad memories come back. I experience that every day.”

Ward added that his wife did not want to return to California because of this, leaving Ward to handle the matter alone. However, he doesn’t want to continue to deal with this alone, which could lead to him leaving San Francisco.

“I often suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder,” Ward said. “I vomit, 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 that he would still be open to returning to the 49ers if he could “get over a lot of this trauma.”

Ward signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the 49ers in March 2022. He made the Pro Bowl and was named second-team All-Pro in 2023 as he had five interceptions and led the league with 23 pass deflections.

In his three seasons in San Francisco, he appeared in 46 games, recording 213 tackles, six tackles for loss, six interceptions and 41 pass deflections.

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