© 2026 ABC News

\"Having the privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes has changed us for the better,\" he added. \"She will forever be daddy's best friend and mommy's little girl. We'll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.\"

Ward did not reveal any details about the cause of Amani's death.

In a show of support for the cornerback, the 49ers released a statement on Instagram following the news.

\"PHOTO:
Kelley L Cox/Imagn Images/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
PHOTO: NFL: San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward (7) attempts to gather the ball on a Dallas Cowboys incomplete pass during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium Oct. 27, 2024.
>

\"The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward's beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy,\" the statement read. \"Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh.\"

\"We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique, while sending them our love and support during this unimaginable time,\" the statement concluded.

Earlier this year, in March, Ward shared a series of photos and videos of Amani and a sweet tribute to his daughter on World Down Syndrome Day.

\"Amani Joy Ward has been the best blessing I could've asked for,\" he wrote in the caption at the time. \"I used to think Down Syndrome was a handicap but now I realize it is just a gift from God. 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.\"

\"At first we went through feelings of sadness & anger but those feelings transformed into pure joy as soon as we laid eyes on her. She went from heart surgery to the happiest kid I've ever been around,\" he added. \"Amani is filled with pure joy & a contagious laugh. My baby makes me smile from ear to ear every time I see her. November 17, 2022 a star was born. We love you AMANI JOY. 💛💙💛💙💛💙💛💙💛💙💛💙.\"

","canonicalUrl":"https://abcnews.com/GMA/Family/san-francisco-49ers-player-charvarius-ward-daughter-dies/story?id=115277334","legacySlug":"/family/story/san-francisco-49ers-player-charvarius-ward-daughter-dies-115277334","noIndexNoFollow":false},"publishTime":"20:18","publishDate":"10-29-2024","updatedTime":"20:26","updatedDate":"10-29-2024","socialImage":{"alt":"San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward (7) attempts to gather the ball on a Dallas Cowboys incomplete pass during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium Oct. 27, 2024.","credit":"Kelley L Cox/Imagn Images/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/charvariusw-ward-1-rt-dp-241029_1730230657216_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg","width":992,"height":558},"datePublished":"10/29/2024 20:18:00 GMT","video":{"live":false,"id":115277334,"headline":"NFL player announces death of 1-year-old daughter","mediaAssetTitle":"NFL player announces death of daughter","description":"Charvarius Ward said his daughter Amani Joy died Monday morning.","duration":"3:35","posterImg":{"url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","width":608,"height":342},"video":{"feed":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2024/10/241027_gma_edwards_nfl_841_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"},"playlist":["113560905","113374088","106756525"]},"relatedItems":[{"contentType":"story","date":"September 10, 2024","headline":"People are amazed at this NFL player -- and his home maintenance TikToks","section":"living","slug":"/living/story/meet-nfl-player-empowering-fans-tiktok-challenges-113560905","id":113560905,"image":{"alt":"People are amazed at this NFL player -- and his home maintenance TikToks","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/mackhollins-gty-er-240910_1726000212948_hpMain_4x3t_240.jpg","credit":"Getty Images | Mack Hollins/Tiktok","ratio":"1x1"}},{"contentType":"video","date":"September 4, 2024","headline":"49ers teammates speak out after rookie Ricky Pearsall was shot in robbery","section":"culture","slug":"/video/113374088","id":113374088,"image":{"alt":"49ers teammates speak out after rookie Ricky Pearsall was shot in robbery","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/240904_gma_adan_49ers4_731_hpMain_1x1_240.jpg","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1"}},{"contentType":"video","date":"January 29, 2024","headline":"49ers Arik Armstead reacts to team heading to Super Bowl LVIII","section":"culture","slug":"/video/106756525","id":106756525,"image":{"alt":"49ers Arik Armstead reacts to team heading to Super Bowl LVIII","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/240129_gma_armstead1_hpMain_1x1_240.jpg","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1"}}],"relatedContentSection":"news","schemaContent":{"name":"NFL player announces death of 1-year-old daughter","description":"Charvarius Ward said his daughter Amani Joy died Monday morning.","duration":"3:35","uploadDate":"10-29-2024","publication":"10-29-2024","images":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2024/10/241027_gma_edwards_nfl_841_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2024/10/241027_gma_edwards_nfl_841_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","link":"https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/family/story/san-francisco-49ers-player-charvarius-ward-daughter-dies-115277334"}},"playlist":[{"id":"132569874","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132567885","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132510121","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132473181","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132497933","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132281378","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132283010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132273278","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132231169","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132206748","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132200241","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054443","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054798","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132033010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131912713","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131830583","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131834976","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554765","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554815","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131543053","contentType":"story","section":"news"}],"kvps":{"pgtyp":"article","lang":"en","sp":"goodmorningamerica","programmatic":"true","bundleId":"com.abcnews"}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewwdgnewgmaweb","ns":"gma","pageName":"gma:family:video","pageType":"video","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"gma:site","tagID":"g_page01","userABCookie":"0","section":"family","title":"NFL player announces death of 1-year-old daughter","pubTime":"16:18","pubDate":"10-29-2024","modTime":"16:26","modDate":"10-29-2024","taxonomyTags":"none","id":115277334,"editorialOtherSubjects":"","wordCount":"none","columns":"none","authors":"","authorsUnit":"none","authorsBureau":"none","subBrand":"Good Morning America","provider":"Good Morning America","videoName":"NFL player announces death of 1-year-old daughter","mediaAssetTitle":"NFL player announces death of daughter","videoId":115277334,"mediaOnPage":"video","legacySlug":"/family/story/san-francisco-49ers-player-charvarius-ward-daughter-dies-115277334"},"taboola":{}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/video/115277334","vary":{"host":"www.goodmorningamerica.com","cached":true,"path":"/video/115277334","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};