San Francisco 49ers' Charvarius Ward Announces Death of 23-Month-Old Daughter Amani Joy: 'Heartbroken'

Mar. 15, 2025

Chavarius Ward announces the death of his 23-month-old daughter.Photo:Brooke Sutton/Getty; Charvarius Ward/Instagram

Brooke Sutton/Getty; Charvarius Ward/Instagram

The San Francisco 49ers cornerback, 28, announced on Tuesday, Oct. 29, that his 23-month-old daughter Amani Joy, whom he shares with girlfriend Monique Cook, has died. Sharing a photo of his daughter on hisInstagram, Ward wrote that his family is “heartbroken” as they process the tragic news.

“She taught us to have patience, trust, and a positive outlook on 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.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Having the privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes has changed us for the better. She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl. We’ll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy,” he ended his post.

The 49ers alsoreleased a statement on Instagram, sending love and support to Ward and Cook.

“We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique, while sending them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”

This past March, Ward shared a carousel of photos of his daughter as he celebrated World Down Syndrome Day.

“Amani Joy Ward has been the best blessing I could’ve asked for. I used to think Down Syndrome was a handicap but now I realize it is just a gift from God,” Ward wrote in his post.

“Being Amani’s dad has taught me patience & how to surrender & let things be. We couldn’t control whether she had Trisomy 21 but we can control our attitude about it.”

Noting that his feelings of sadness and anger transformed into joy, Ward added that she also went through heart surgery after being diagnosed with down syndrome.

source: people.com