By Jordan Long
Safety T.J. Ward has decided to walk away from the NFL. He hasn’t played a down since 2017 when he suited up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The time was best for him to retire since he couldn’t play the game at a high level anymore.
Ward started his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns. They selected him with the 38th selection in the 2010 NFL Draft. Ward became the Browns’ starting safety that year. He proved he could tackle a runner in the open field and tip the ball away. Ward ended up with 2 interceptions and 10 passes defended to go along with 123 tackles. Ward stayed with the Browns until the end of 2013. His rookie year was the top year for him in a Browns’ uniform.
Ward was a free agent after the 2013 season. The Broncos were looking to improve the defense to become Super Bowl Champions. During that offseason, they had agreed to contracts with DeMarcus Ware and Aqib Talib. In his first season in the Mile High City, Ward ended up with 74 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 6 passes defended. They made the playoffs, won the AFC West division, and earned a first-round bye. Unfortunately, the playoff run didn’t last. The Broncos were upset by the Indianapolis Colts in the Divisional Round 24-13, ending their year.
In 2015, Ward was part of the Broncos’ “No Fly Zone” secondary which included safety Darian Stewart and cornerbacks Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr, and Bradley Roby. The Broncos ended up with the #1 ranked defense in the league. Ward was a large part of the defense with 61 tackles and 6 passes defended in the regular season. With his help, the Broncos went 12-4 and ended up as the #1 seed in the AFC Playoffs.
The Broncos beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round 23-16. They held on to knock off the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game 20-18. In Super Bowl 50, the defense held the Panthers’ offense to 10 points. The Broncos won Super Bowl 50 24-10. In that game, Ward totaled 7 tackles, 1 interception, and recovered 1 fumble.
In the 2016 season, Ward appeared in 14 games for the Broncos. He totaled 87 tackles and 8 passes defended. He had 1 interception. Denver went 9-7 and missed the playoffs. The Broncos decided to let Ward go on September 2nd, 2017. Ward hoped he would have another opportunity in the NFL and he did with the Buccaneers that season. He appeared in 12 games for Tampa Bay recording 43 tackles and 3 passes defended.
After 2017, Ward waited to have another chance. It took a while but the Cardinals agreed to place him on the practice squad on October 1, 2020. It didn’t last. He was released on October 20th, 2020. Ward knew the writing was on the wall. It was time for him to walk away.
According to Denverbroncos.com, Ward said, “We each have our own journey in this life and in this sport, and I proudly followed mine until my football path was complete. Regardless of the ups and downs, I stayed the course. Football is in my blood. I would play as long as I was able. In the end, I wasn’t allowed to play anymore.”
Ward leaves the game with a total of 607 tackles in 107 games. He is known as one of the hardest hitting safeties to play for the Broncos besides Steve Atwater. Anytime a receiver caught the ball, Ward was there to level him in hopes of the ball coming out for an incomplete pass or a forced fumble. Ward could knock the ball away to prevent completions and intercept the football, finishing with 45 passes defended and 8 interceptions in his career. There were times he would blitz the quarterback and took them down for 8.5 sacks.
Ward didn’t have anything to prove in the NFL game anymore. He was voted into the Pro Bowl 2 times and won a Super Bowl. His stats are not Hall of Fame worthy, but he will be known as being a part of one of the best Broncos’ defenses in their history.
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