With the 2024 NFL trade deadline a week away, it’s the perfect time to look back at some past midseason acquisitions that have aged well.

The trade deadline can be a source of a wide range of activity. Given the brevity of the season, the time necessary to get players acclimated to a new team’s schemes, and a salary cap to deal with, the NFL trade deadline is not quite as active as that of other sports. Some years feature very few transactions, while others are more active as teams try to push for playoff contention.

Not all trade deadline acquisitions have a significant impact, but several examples of excellent trades have been made in recent years. Some were easy to identify as great moves at the moment, while others took longer to age.

These seven trades are among the best midseason deals in NFL history.

Best NFL trade deadline deals in history

7. San Francisco 49ers acquire Jimmy Garoppolo (2017)

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When Kyle Shanahan took over as the San Francisco 49ers’ head coach before the 2017 season, he came with plans to overhaul the team’s offensive scheme. He didn’t believe San Francisco’s then-starter Colin Kaepernick would fit in that scheme, so he allowed Kaepernick to walk, hoping to bring in a new starting quarterback to slot into his offense.

Shanahan found his man in a trade deadline deal to acquire Jimmy Garoppolo from the New England Patriots. It cost the 49ers their 2018 second-round pick, but the trade ended up being the spark the team needed that year.

Garoppolo made his debut for his new team in Week 12 following a lower-body injury to starter C.J. Beathard. He became the team’s starter the following week. He led the 49ers to five straight wins to close the season after starting the year 1-10.

That February, San Francisco extended Garoppolo on a five-year deal.

‘Jimmy G’ had his ups and downs with the Niners, but the team made the playoffs in three of his six seasons – including its first Super Bowl appearance since 2012 in 2019. He also has the second-best win percentage (.684) by a San Francisco quarterback in franchise history, only behind Steve Young.

6. Baltimore Ravens shore up their defense with Roquan Smith (2022)

The 2018 first-round pick led the Chicago Bears in tackles in the four full years he played for the team. In 2020 and 2021, he earned second-team All-Pro nods after finishing in the top six in combined tackles in each of those years.

The writing was on the wall for Smith’s time in Chicago when the team couldn’t reach an agreement with the linebacker ahead of his fifth season. He requested a trade in August 2022 and told the media that he didn’t feel properly valued by the new front office regime that had taken over that January.

After eight games, the Baltimore Ravens traded 2023 second and fifth-round picks to the Bears for Smith. He finished the year with a career-high 169 tackles across two teams, 4.5 sacks, 11 tackles for a loss, and six passes defended. That production was enough to earn him first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career.

Smith got a first-team All-Pro nod for a second straight time in 2023 with his 158 tackles. Including 21 in a single game, 1.5 sacks, five tackles for a loss, eight passes defended, and a forced fumble.

This trade might continue to age even better if Smith continues to establish that he’s one of the league’s best all-around inside linebackers. It’s still been a big win for the Ravens, who signed him to a five-year, $100 million extension in January 2023.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick after Week 2 (2019)

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ acquisition of Fitzpatrick was similar to the Ravens’ trade for Smith.

Fitzpatrick requested a trade one week into the safety’s second season with the Miami Dolphins. The 2018 first-round pick felt the coaching staff in Miami was not utilizing his skill set correctly. He made 12 tackles across two games before the Dolphins and Steelers completed their trade.

In September 2019, Pittsburgh sent its 2020 first and fifth-round picks and a 2021 sixth-round pick in exchange for Fitzpatrick, Miami’s 2020 fourth-round pick and 2021 seventh-round pick. Fitzpatrick made his Steelers debut in Week 3 and established himself as one of the league’s best safeties by the end of the year.

He was a first-team All-Pro safety in 2019 and again in 2020. Fitzpatrick earned a third such nod in four years with more first-team All-Pro honors in 2022. It was a year in which he tallied six interceptions that tied for the league lead. He has four Pro Bowl appearances in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023.

The Steelers signed him to a four-year, $73.6 million extension ahead of the 2022 season.

4. Dallas Cowboys add Amari Cooper to their receivers room (2018)

When Jon Gruden took over as head coach of the Raiders in 2018, it didn’t take him long to make some big moves that flipped productive players for draft picks. Just ahead of that 2018 season, the then-Oakland Raiders traded star edge rusher Khalil Mack and two draft picks to the Chicago Bears for a return of four picks – including two first-rounders.

After a 1-5 start to the 2018 season, Gruden denied rumors that he was seeking trade partners for Amari Cooper, who was the Raiders’ No. 1 receiver in each of his first three pro seasons. Nevertheless, the Raiders traded the wideout for the Dallas Cowboys’ 2019 first-round pick in late October.

When he arrived in Dallas, Cooper didn’t take long to re-establish his reliability as a top receiving option. Despite playing just nine games for the Cowboys in 2018, the Alabama product’s 725 receiving yards, including a 180-yard performance against Washington and a 217-yard day against Philadelphia and six touchdowns, led the entire team that year.

Cooper’s three and a half years with the Cowboys were the most productive of his career. Before Dallas traded him in 2022, he had accumulated 3,893 receiving yards and tallied 27 touchdowns on 292 catches – his best numbers for a single team across the four he’s played for.

Although the Cowboys never made a deep playoff run while Cooper was on the team, he was a crucial part of the Dallas offense in all four of its seasons.

3. Los Angeles Rams bring in Jalen Ramsey (2019)

Jalen Ramsey established himself as a star NFL cornerback early in his career. He was the Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up to Joey Bosa in 2016 and earned his initial first-team All-Pro recognition in his second season in 2017.

If winning cures everything, losing exposes issues. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ AFC championship game run in 2017 was followed by a 5-11 season in 2018. Then, Jacksonville began the 2019 season 0-2.

During the Jaguars’ Week 2 loss, Ramsey had a verbal altercation with then-head coach Doug Marrone that escalated to the point that both had to be physically restrained. The next week, the cornerback played his final game with Jacksonville.

In mid-October, the Jaguars traded Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams for two first-round picks and a 2021 fourth-rounder.

The cornerback was a Pro Bowler in his four seasons in Los Angeles and earned two more first-team All-Pro nods in 2020 and 2021. Ramsey helped the Rams win a Super Bowl in the 2021 season, accumulating 13 total tackles and four passes defended throughout the playoff run, including one pass defense in the Super Bowl.

2. San Francisco 49ers add potent offensive weapon Christian McCaffrey (2022)

When healthy, Christian McCaffrey was one of the best offensive players in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers.

In 2019, his third season in the NFL, the former Stanford Cardinal led the league with 403 touches, 2,392 scrimmage yards, and 19 total touchdowns. He earned first-team All-Pro recognition for the first time, his first Pro Bowl nod, and a third-place finish in Offensive Player of the Year voting.

Unfortunately, for the running back and the Panthers, McCaffrey couldn’t stay healthy for the two years after. He played just ten games in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, accumulating 212 touches, 1,159 yards from scrimmage, and eight touchdowns.

With Carolina’s window of contention closing, the Panthers decided to flip the star tailback for future draft picks halfway through the 2022 season. The 49ers, looking to make a postseason push, gave up their second, third, and fourth-round picks in 2023 and a 2024 fifth-round pick.

In 11 games for San Francisco, McCaffrey led the team with 746 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. He also was the fourth-most productive pass-catcher on the 49ers that year, with 52 catches for 464 receiving yards.

The 2023 season was even better. He led the league with 1,459 rushing yards, 2,023 scrimmage yards, and 21 total touchdowns. In 2023, McCaffrey earned his third Pro Bowl nod, second first-team All-Pro honors, an Offensive Player of the Year win, and third-place finish in MVP voting.

The running back’s stellar year was a big reason the 49ers made it to Super Bowl 58. He became the first player in Super Bowl history with 75 rushing and 75 receiving yards in the game.

1. Marshawn Lynch gets a fresh start with the Seattle Seahawks (2010)

Lynch had a strong first two seasons as a pro in 2007 and 2008. He put up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with 15 total touchdowns across those two years and a Pro Bowl nod in 2008.

Before the 2009 season, Lynch was arrested on misdemeanor weapons charges that led to a three-game suspension to start the year. That season was also the year that Fred Jackson supplanted Lynch as the Buffalo Bills’ starting back en route to his first 1,000-yard season.

Lynch played just four more games for the Bills in the 2010 season before the Seattle Seahawks traded a 2011 fourth-round pick and a 2012 conditional fifth-round pick for the running back. The rest is history.

Seattle’s new acquisition established an early legacy in the Seahawks franchise, with a 67-yard touchdown run featuring nine broken tackles against the New Orleans Saints – dubbed the ‘Beast Quake’ – in the 2010 playoffs.

Over the next four seasons, Lynch cemented his legacy as one of the best running backs in franchise history and an icon of the 2010s era of the NFL. He rushed for 1,200 or more yards and scored at least a dozen touchdowns each season from 2011 to 2014. His run earned him four straight Pro Bowl nods, first-team All-Pro recognition in 2012, and second-team All-Pro honors in 2014.

Lynch also helped Seattle win its first Super Bowl title in 2013.

Across five full seasons with the Seahawks, Lynch played 70 games, tallying 1,292 carries for 5,774 rushing yards and 51 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 137 passes for 1,171 yards and eight receiving touchdowns.

The 18-team field is set for the 2024 edition of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

After setting a league record for the most points scored in a single season, Inter Miami CF will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Lionel Messi aims to add another trophy to his impressive collection — MLS Cup would be a 47th trophy won for club or country by Messi after Inter Miami won the Supporters’ Shield earlier this month for his 46th trophy.

Some worthy challengers could interrupt Messi and Miami’s road to glory. The Columbus Crew are the defending league champions and coach Wilfried Nancy’s club will be striving to be the first repeat MLS Cup winner since 2012.

The 2022 MLS Cup winners, Los Angeles FC, bring a talented group into the postseason for what they hope is a third consecutive MLS Cup run.

And it’s been a decade since the LA Galaxy last won MLS Cup, but the resurgent club seems determined to return to its prior glory.

The New York Red Bulls, meanwhile, extended the longest active playoff appearance streak among North America’s major men’s professional sports leagues. RBNY has made the MLS playoffs in 15 consecutive seasons, which is more than MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers (12), NBA’s Boston Celtics (10) and NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs (nine).

Here’s a look at the MLS playoff teams, seeds, matchups and results:

Eastern Conference playoff seeds

Inter Miami CF
Columbus Crew
FC Cincinnati
Orlando City SC
Charlotte FC
New York City FC
New York Red Bulls
CF Montréal
Atlanta United

Western Conference playoff seeds

Los Angeles FC
LA Galaxy
Real Salt Lake
Seattle Sounders FC
Houston Dynamo FC
Minnesota United FC
Colorado Rapids
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Portland Timbers

MLS Cup Playoffs 2024: Wild card and Round 1 matchups and schedule

These are the MLS playoff matchups through the first round (all games available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) …

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Wild-card match:

Round 1 (best-of-three series):

Inter Miami CF vs. Atlanta United

Game 1 (at Miami): Inter Miami 2, Atlanta United 1
Game 2 (at Atlanta United): Saturday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m. ET
Game 3 (at Miami, if necessary): Saturday, Nov. 9, 8 p.m. ET

Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls

Game 1 (at Columbus): New York Red Bulls 1, Columbus Crew 0
Game 2 (at RBNY): Sunday, Nov. 3, 4:30 p.m. ET
Game 3 (at Columbus, if necessary): Sunday, Nov. 10, 5 p.m. ET

FC Cincinnati vs. New York City FC

Game 1 (at Cincinnati): FC Cincinnati 1, New York City FC 0
Game 2 (at NYCFC): Saturday, Nov. 2 (time and venue TBD)
Game 3 (at Cincinnati, if necessary): Saturday, Nov. 9, 4 p.m. ET

Orlando City SC vs. Charlotte FC

Game 1 (at Orlando): Orlando City SC 2, Charlotte FC 0
Game 2 (at Charlotte): Friday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m. ET
Game 3 (at Orlando, if necessary): Saturday, Nov. 9, 6 p.m. ET

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Wild-card match:

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 5, Portland Timbers 0

Round 1 (best-of-three series):

Los Angeles FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Game 1 (at LAFC): Los Angeles FC 2, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1
Game 2 (at Vancouver Whitecaps FC): Sunday, Nov. 3, 8:45 p.m. ET (FS1)
Game 3 (at LAFC, if necessary): Friday, Nov. 8, 11 p.m. ET

LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids

Game 1 (at Los Angeles): LA Galaxy 5, Colorado Rapids 0
Game 2 (at Colorado): Friday, Nov. 1, 9:30 p.m. ET
Game 3 (at Los Angeles): Saturday, Nov. 9, 10 p.m. ET

Real Salt Lake vs. Minnesota United FC

Game 1 (at Salt Lake): Minnesota United FC 0, Real Salt Lake 0 (Minnesota United FC won penalty shootout, 5-4)
Game 2 (at Minnesota): Saturday, Nov. 2, 9 p.m. ET
Game 3 (at Salt Lake, if necessary): Friday, Nov. 8, 9 p.m. ET

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Houston Dynamo FC

Game 1 (at Seattle): Seattle Sounders FC 0, Houston Dynamo FC 0 (Seattle Sounders won penalty shootout, 5-4)
Game 2 (at Houston): Sunday, Nov. 3, 6:30 p.m. ET
Game 3 (at Seattle, if necessary): Sunday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m. ET

2024 MLS playoff schedule

Oct. 22-23: Wild-card matches (single-elimination matches)
Oct. 25-Nov. 10: Round 1 (best-of-three series)
Nov. 23-24: Conference semifinals (single-elimination matches)
Nov. 30-Dec. 1: Conference finals (single-elimination matches)
Dec. 7: MLS Cup (single winner-take-all match)

MLS CUP: Ranking every Major League Soccer championship game

MLS Cup Playoffs bracket

Here is the full playoff schedule in bracket form from MLSsoccer.com.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

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‘My NBA days are over,’ Gay wrote in an announcement published in The Players’ Tribune on Tuesday. ‘Everyone gets to a point where what they’re able to do is just not good enough anymore. I needed to humble myself and be like: Look, this is over.‘

Gay, 38, last played in the league on March 22, 2023 for the Utah Jazz. He signed a one-year contract with the Golden State Warriors in September 2023 before being waived by the team.

‘I’d be lying if I said my career turned out exactly how I wanted it to. Let’s be real here. It didn’t… My story, it’s not some fairy tale. In the end, I guess I would say it was … complicated,’ Gay wrote. ‘I can’t be upset about those things forever, you know what I mean? Spend the rest of my life thinking about what-ifs?’

Gay was a McDonald’s All-American and highly-touted recruit coming out of high school. He played two seasons for the UConn Huskies (2004–2006) under coach Jim Calhoun and was drafted with the eighth overall pick of the 2006 NBA draft. He spent the first six-plus years of his career with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2007. Gay also had stints with the Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs and the Utah Jazz.

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Across 1,120 regular season games (779 starts), Gay averaged 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

‘I’m just feeling extremely grateful for all the love, wisdom, and friendship that I’ve experienced in the game of basketball,’ Gay said. ‘Eighteen years in the league. Learned from some of the best to ever do it. Made some incredible lifelong friends. Feeling good. Healthy. Inspired. Have a family that loves me, and who I love more than anything… I’m the luckiest man in the world.” 

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As expected, the Big Ten and SEC are in position to dominate the 12-team College Football Playoff.

The big question in this week’s bracket projection is how many teams the two power conferences will place in the field. The combined total currently stands at seven: four from the SEC and three from the Big Ten.

The predicted conference champions are now Georgia and Oregon, with the Ducks moving into the Big Ten driver’s seat thanks to the win against Ohio State and the Buckeyes’ struggles this past weekend against Nebraska. The expectation of Oregon running the table through the conference championship game pushes the Ducks into the No. 1 overall seed in the bracket and slides Georgia down to No. 2.

The scenario might change this weekend based on what happens when the Ohio State travels to Penn State in one of the defining games of the regular season. A loss wouldn’t eliminate the Buckeyes from at-large contention, though that would result in the Nittany Lions and Oregon being on track to decide the Big Ten.

Over in the SEC, the debate is less over which team is favored to win the league — that has to be Georgia based on how the Bulldogs beat Texas — and more about the crowded crop of contenders with one or two losses. This group includes Texas A&M, Tennessee, LSU and Alabama. Another team that can vault back into the picture is Mississippi, should the Rebels score a mammoth upset against Georgia on Nov. 9.

But it is the Aggies and Volunteers that have worked their way into the playoff this week at the expense of the Tigers and Iowa State in the Big 12.

College Football Playoff bracket projection

Notre Dame continues to move past September’s loss to Northern Illinois. After trouncing Navy on Saturday, the Fighting Irish are beginning to look like one of the safest picks to earn at-large playoff bid.

One huge positive has been the rapid evolution of Texas A&M from SEC punchline to the only team still perfect in conference play. Notre Dame topped the Aggies in the season opener, something the playoff selection committee will definitely highlight when the debut rankings are released next Tuesday.

The Irish are also benefitting from the historic starts for Navy and Army. With Air Force and North Texas up next, the Black Knights could still be unbeaten when they face Notre Dame in Yankee Stadium on Nov. 23.

Otherwise, the Irish take on Florida State, Virginia and Southern California, with only the Trojans coming on the road. Should they take care of business, one-loss Notre Dame is a lock to earn an at-large spot and could potentially host that opening-round game.

Four teams to watch

Army, Navy and Tulane

Here’s three for the price of one to reflect the teams still unbeaten in American Athletic play. Navy’s loss to Notre Dame isn’t fatal. Army is the only perfect team left in the Group of Five. And after competitive losses to Kansas State and Oklahoma in non-conference play, Tulane has won four in a row capped by Saturday’s shootout against North Texas. The Midshipmen and Black Knights meat on Dec. 14 — after the final playoff rankings, which could get interesting — while the Green Wave close the regular season with Navy and Memphis.

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh’s credibility was boosted by Friday’s 41-13 against Syracuse. While there’s no single marquee win, the Panthers do have five wins against Power Four teams with a non-losing record. In terms of making a national statement, this Saturday’s game at SMU and a matchup at home against Clemson on Nov. 16 will determine whether this team remains in the playoff picture.

Colorado

An at-large bid seems very unrealistic, if for no other reason than the Buffaloes won’t beat a ranked team during the regular season; they came close against Kansas State but came up a field goal short. But given how Colorado has played in recent weeks, this team is in the mix to reach the Big 12 championship game and play for an automatic playoff berth.

Alabama

The Indianapolis Colts are benching 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson, according to multiple reports.

Richardson, whom the Colts drafted with the fourth overall pick one year ago, had been struggling as an NFL starting quarterback through a limited sample size of 10 career starts. What’s more, the 22-year-old came under fire after Indy’s Week 8 loss to the Houston Texans when he told members of the media he took himself out of the game in the third quarter because he was tired.

“Tired, I ain’t going to lie,” Richardson said. “That was a lot of running right there, and I didn’t think I was going to go that next play. I needed a break right there.”

Indianapolis is 4-4 and sits in second place in the AFC South. The Colts will turn to backup quarterback Joe Flacco as they enter a contest with the Minnesota Vikings on ‘Sunday Night Football’ in Week 9.

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Flacco is 1-1 as a starter this year and helped his team win a Week 4 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers after Richardson exited with an injury.

Anthony Richardson: ‘Tired’

Ahead of a big, third-and-goal situation in the third quarter, Richardson briefly exited the game after taking a sack on second down. However, the 2023 first-round pick did not require medical attention and returned to the game for the next Colts drive.

When reporters asked why he departed, the second-year quarterback said, ‘Man, tired. I ain’t gonna lie. That was a lot of running right there that I did, and I don’t think I was gonna be able to do that next play. I needed a break right there.’

Following those comments, Colts head coach Shane Steichen did not commit to starting Richardson in Week 9 against the Vikings.

‘We’re evaluating everything,’ Steichen said.

He also said that he and Richardson had a private conversation in the quarterback room and chalked the situation up to being a ‘learning experience’ for the young quarterback.

NFL world reacts to Richardson’s comments

Richardson’s response sent waves through the NFL world. Several players and analysts shared their thoughts on the young quarterback’s candor and controversial self-removal from the game.

‘We had a conversation about it, and I think he knows it’s not the standard that he needs to play up to and the rest of the team holds him to,’ Colts center Ryan Kelly said. ‘I’m sure he’s going to take some criticism for that – rightfully so, right?’

Former Colts punter and current sports analyst Pat McAfee shared his thoughts on social media website X: ‘I had never seen an NFL QB tap out while still being healthy until watching Anthony Richardson. The QB is your franchise. The message it sends is loud and influential.’

Former Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly criticized Richardson’s excuse, pointing out fellow former Panther Cam Newton’s ability to scramble and continue to play afterward.

Anthony Richardson stats

Through eight weeks in 2024, Richardson has started six games. In those starts, he held a 3-3 record and was 59 of 133 on pass attempts (44.4% completion rate, lowest in the NFL) with 958 passing yards, four touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Richardson also has 41 rush attempts for 242 yards and a rushing touchdown this year.

In his last start, against the Texans in Week 8, the second-year gunslinger was 10 of 32 (31.3%, the worst completion rate of his career) for 175 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

The Carolina Panthers became the latest NFL team to trade a wide receiver by dealing offseason acquisition Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens for a draft pick swap. Johnson came to Carolina in a deal with the Steelers that saw the Panthers get Johnson and a seventh-round draft pick and Pittsburgh get cornerback Donte Jackson and a sixth-round draft pick.

Now, Johnson’s on his third team in the last eight months.

This move also depletes the Panthers’ wide receiver corps in the wake of their fifth consecutive loss. Wideout Adam Thielen is designated to return from injured reserve but missed last week’s loss to the Broncos.

Here’s how Carolina’s depth chart stacks up after the Johnson deal.

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Carolina Panthers WR depth chart

With Johnson gone, the Panthers have four wide receivers on their active roster at time of publishing:

Xavier Legette
David Moore
Jalen Coker
Jonathan Mingo

The team also has Thielen designated to return from IR as well as Deven Thompkins, Dan Chisena, and Praise Olatoke signed to the practice squad.

Carolina Panthers WR stats

Legette, the Panthers’ rookie first-round draft pick, is the top pass catcher on the team with Johnson gone. Here’s how he compares to his fellow wideouts:

Legette: 35 targets, 22 catches, 211 yards, three touchdowns
Mingo: 25 targets, 12 catches, 121 yards
Coker: 15 targets, 12 catches, 186 yards, one touchdown
Moore: 14 targets, nine catches, 83 yards

NFL WR trades this season

Baltimore’s trade for Johnson is the latest deal involving a wide receiver. It comes after Davante Adams went from Las Vegas to New York, Amari Cooper went from Cleveland to Buffalo, and DeAndre Hopkins went from Tennessee to Kansas City.

The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 5. More players could be on the move, including more wide receivers.

“We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning. She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear. She taught us to have patience, trust, and a positive outlook on life. She showed us true strength and bravery,” Ward posted on Instagram.

“She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile. 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.”

The Bay Area News Group reported that Amani Joy battled heart issues since birth and had open-heart surgery on April 11, 2023. She was born premature with Down syndrome.

The 49ers released a statement on the passing of Ward’s daughter.

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“The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved one-year old daughter, Amani Joy. Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh,” the statement read. “We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique, while sending them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”

Ward’s started in all 41 games he’s played with the 49ers. The 49ers signed Ward during free agency in 2022. The cornerback played his first four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. Ward was a 2023 Pro Bowler and won Super Bowl 54 as a member of the Chiefs.