49ers Star Charvarius Ward Shares Emotional Post Following Tragic Death Of 1-Year-Old Daughter

Charvarius Ward, cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers, recently took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message in memory of his 23-month-old daughter, Amani Joy, who passed away tragically.

Born prematurely in November 2022 and diagnosed with Down syndrome, Amani faced numerous health challenges, including an open-heart surgery in April 2023.

Charvarius Ward had openly expressed the profound impact of fatherhood on him, reflecting on the unique joys his daughter brought into his life despite her struggles.

On Thursday, October 31, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward shared a touching photo on his Instagram Stories, capturing a quiet moment with his 23-month-old daughter, Amani Joy.

In the image, Ward is seen cuddling his daughter as they relax together on a couch, with Amani resting gently on her father’s chest.

"My soul is bleeding. I need you Amani. You did not deserve this," Ward wrote over the picture, adding four broken heart emojis. The song "Death Ain't Easy" by Lil Durk was playing in the background.

The post comes two days after Ward announced the death of his daughter, whom he shares with his girlfriend Monique Cook, on Tuesday, October 29. Sharing a photo of his daughter on his Instagram, Ward wrote that his family was "heartbroken" as they processed the tragic news.

Ward announced the heartbreaking passing of his daughter, Amani Joy, on Instagram, sharing a poignant photo of her and expressing the profound sorrow his family feels as they process the tragic loss.

"We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning," he began to write . "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."

He continued, "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. 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."

In a February interview with The San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch, Charvarius Ward shared that prenatal tests had revealed early signs of health challenges for his daughter.

A blood test indicated Down syndrome, while an ultrasound detected a heart defect prior to her birth. These early diagnoses marked the beginning of what Ward described as a journey of resilience and joy, a theme he often reflected on when discussing his experiences as Amani’s father.

"It's made my heart bigger," Ward said. "I was never mean to my mom as a kid. But I'm nicer to my mom. I'm nicer to all the women around me. I try to treat people a little bit better. Because, obviously, she has Down syndrome. And she's probably going to have a little mistreatment going through life with a disability."

He continued, "People might try to bully her a little bit. So I just want to treat people well and, hopefully, people will treat her good."

The 49ers also released a statement, sending love and support to Ward and Cook.

"The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward's beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy," the NFL team shared. "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."

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch also expressed his condolences to cornerback Charvarius Ward following the tragic passing of Ward's 23-month-old daughter, Amani Joy.

In an interview with Bay Area radio station KNBR on Wednesday, Lynch reflected on Ward's brief journey as a father, acknowledging the profound impact Amani had on his life. "We had all kind of lived through this with Mooney ... he was so excited to become a first-time dad," Lynch shared. "And then, they had a fear that you're going to have a baby, it may indeed have Down syndrome. The baby was born with Down syndrome."

"But Mooney's attitude, his wife's attitude, where they were going to love this little girl—and Joy was the perfect middle name because every time he saw her, she just had this giant smile, was always laughing," he continued. "And Mooney, his perspective, as it does when you're a parent, changed so much. And Mooney just had such a deep love for this young lady."

Lynch added that the 49ers organization is just "really shaken for the family." "Amani was at the game the night before, in the daycare that we have, and it's just the unspeakable deal of going to bed and waking up [to losing her]," he said. "We were able to be around him, but you don't know what to say. You just pray, you get love, and continue to be there for the Ward family."