Hines Ward facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Hines Ward

Ward in 2019
Arizona State Sun Devils
Position:	Wide receivers coach
Personal information
Born:	(1976-03-08) March 8, 1976 (age 49) Seoul, South Korea
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:	Forest Park (Forest Park, Georgia)
College:	Georgia (1994–1997)
NFL Draft:	1998 / Round: 3 / Pick: 92
Career history
As player:
Pittsburgh Steelers (1998–2011)
As coach:
Pittsburgh Steelers (2017) Offensive Intern New York Jets (2019–2020) Offensive assistant Florida Atlantic (2021) Wide receivers coach San Antonio Brahmas (2023) Head coach Arizona State (2024–present) Wide receivers coach
As executive:
Alliance of American Football (2019) Head of football development
Career highlights and awards
2× Super Bowl champion (XL, XLIII) Super Bowl MVP (XL) 3× Second-team All-Pro (2002–2004) 4× Pro Bowl (2001–2004) Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame First-team All-SEC (1997) Second-team All-SEC (1996)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 1,000 Receiving yards: 12,083 Receiving touchdowns: 85
Player stats at PFR

Hines Edward Ward Jr. (born March 8, 1976) is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the wide receivers coach for Arizona State. Ward played as a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft. Before that, he played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs.

Ward played his entire professional career for the Steelers. He became the team's all-time leader in catches, receiving yards, and touchdown catches. He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of Super Bowl XL. When he retired, he was one of only eleven NFL players with at least 1,000 career receptions. Many people see Ward as one of the best wide receivers of the 2000s. He was also a key player in the Steelers' success during that time.

Besides football, Ward has appeared in movies and TV shows. These include the reality TV series Dancing with the Stars. He also had small roles in the 2012 movie The Dark Knight Rises and the TV series The Walking Dead. He worked as a football analyst for NBC's Football Night in America from 2012 to 2015. In 2019, Ward started his coaching career with the New York Jets.

Ward was born in Seoul, South Korea. His mother is Korean and his father is African-American. He grew up in the Atlanta area. He has become a supporter for foreigners in Korea, especially mixed-race young people. He wants them to be accepted in society.

Early Life and High School Sports

Hines Ward was born in Seoul, South Korea, on March 8, 1976. His mother is Kim Young-hee, and his father is Hines Ward Sr. When Hines Jr. was one year old, his family moved to the Atlanta area in Georgia. His parents later divorced. Hines lived with his mother and then his grandmother. When he was seven, he was reunited with his mother.

Ward was a talented athlete at Forest Park High School in Forest Park, Georgia. He played quarterback and was named the Clayton County Offensive Player of the Year twice. He was also good at baseball. The Florida Marlins even picked him in the 1994 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft.

College Football Career

Ward played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs from 1994 to 1997. He was a wide receiver, but he also played tailback and even some quarterback. He holds Georgia's bowl game records for passes thrown and yards in the 1995 Peach Bowl. In that game, he threw for 413 yards.

By the end of his college career, Ward had 149 catches for 1,965 yards. This placed him second in the team's history for receptions. He also had 3,870 all-purpose yards, which was second only to legendary player Herschel Walker for the Bulldogs. In 1996 and 1997, he earned All-SEC honors.

When Ward was getting ready for the NFL Draft, doctors found something unusual. He was missing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. He had lost it in a bicycle accident when he was a child. Doctors had not noticed it before.

National Football League (NFL) Career

Ward in 2007 with the Steelers

Before the 1998 NFL Draft, Hines Ward was seen as one of the top five wide receivers. However, when it was discovered he was missing an ACL in his knee, his draft value dropped. Teams became worried about the injury.

Joining the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Ward in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He was the 92nd player chosen overall. On July 20, 1998, he signed a three-year contract with the Steelers.

Early Seasons (1998-2000)

As a rookie in 1998, Ward was the fourth wide receiver on the team. He played in all 16 games, catching 15 passes for 246 yards. In 1999, he became a starter. He caught his first career touchdown pass and finished the season with 61 catches, 638 yards, and 7 touchdowns. In 2000, he continued to be a key player, ending the season with 48 catches for 672 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Becoming a Star (2001-2004)

In 2001, Ward signed a new contract. He had his best season yet, with 94 catches for 1,003 yards and 4 touchdowns. This was his first season with over 1,000 receiving yards. He was also chosen for his first Pro Bowl, which is an all-star game for the NFL's best players.

The 2002 season was even better for Ward. He set career highs with 112 catches, 1,329 receiving yards, and 12 touchdowns. He had multiple games with over 100 receiving yards and multiple touchdowns. He was selected for the Pro Bowl again. In a playoff game against the Cleveland Browns, he caught his first postseason touchdown.

In 2003, Ward continued his strong play. He caught 95 passes for 1,163 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Steelers voted him their team MVP. He was also selected for his third straight Pro Bowl.

The 2004 season saw a new quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, join the Steelers. Ward quickly built a strong connection with him. He had 80 catches for 1,004 yards and 4 touchdowns. This was his fourth season in a row with over 1,000 receiving yards. The Steelers had an amazing 15–1 record. They made it to the AFC Championship game, where Ward had 109 yards and a touchdown. He was chosen for his fourth Pro Bowl.

Super Bowl Champion and MVP (2005)

In 2005, Ward signed a new contract extension. He continued to break records. On November 13, 2005, he became the Steelers' all-time leading receiver, passing John Stallworth.

The Steelers finished the season 11–5 and made the playoffs. They won their playoff games, leading them to Super Bowl XL. On February 5, 2006, Ward played in his first Super Bowl. He had 5 catches for 123 yards and scored a 43-yard touchdown. The Steelers won 21–10 against the Seattle Seahawks. Hines Ward was named the Super Bowl MVP. He was the second foreign-born player to win this award.

Later Career and Retirement (2006-2011)

Ward makes a catch against the Baltimore Ravens in 2006.

In 2006, Ward had a game with three touchdowns, a career first. In 2007, Mike Tomlin became the new head coach. Ward continued to be a leader on the team. On December 2, 2007, he became the Steelers' all-time leader in touchdown receptions. Later that month, he also became the Steelers' all-time leader in receiving yards.

In 2008, Ward helped the Steelers win another Super Bowl. They beat the Arizona Cardinals 27–23 in Super Bowl XLIII. Ward finished the season with 81 catches, 1,043 yards, and 7 touchdowns.

In 2009, Ward signed another contract extension. He reached 10,000 career receiving yards, the first Steelers wide receiver to do so. He had a great season with 95 catches for 1,167 yards and 6 touchdowns.

In 2010, even with younger receivers joining the team, Ward continued to play well. He became the first Steelers player to pass 11,000 receiving yards. He also played in his third Super Bowl, Super Bowl XLV, where the Steelers lost to the Green Bay Packers.

Ward played his final season in 2011. On January 1, 2012, he caught his 1,000th career reception, becoming only the eighth player in NFL history to do so. He retired from professional football on March 20, 2012. He finished his career with 1,000 catches, 12,083 receiving yards, and 85 touchdowns. The Steelers have not given his jersey number 86 to any other player since he retired.

Legacy as a Player

Hines Ward was known for his amazing versatility, reliable hands, and willingness to block. He was a three-time team MVP and a four-time Pro Bowl selection. He had a streak of four straight seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards.

Ward was considered one of the best blocking receivers in the NFL. However, his blocking style sometimes caused controversy. In 2008, he delivered a hard "blindside block" that broke the jaw of a Cincinnati Bengals player. The NFL later created a new rule, sometimes called the "Hines Ward Rule," to ban such hits if they target a defender's head or neck.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular season

Coaching Career

After retiring from playing, Ward began a career in coaching.

Pittsburgh Steelers (Intern)

In August 2017, Ward worked as an offensive intern for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He helped coach the wide receivers.

New York Jets (Offensive Assistant)

In September 2019, Ward became a full-time offensive assistant coach for the New York Jets.

Florida Atlantic Owls (Wide Receivers Coach)

In 2021, Ward was hired by the Florida Atlantic University Owls. He first worked as a special assistant to the head coach. Later, he was promoted to wide receivers coach.

San Antonio Brahmas (Head Coach)

In June 2021, Ward was announced as one of the head coaches for the XFL, a professional football league. In July 2022, he became the head coach of the San Antonio Brahmas. He coached the team in 2023, finishing with a 3–7 record. He resigned from the team in December 2023.

Arizona State Sun Devils (Wide Receivers Coach)

In April 2024, Hines Ward was named the new wide receivers coach for the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Head Coaching Record

XFL

Personal Life and Advocacy

Ward prior to a game in 2008

Hines Ward lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with his wife, Lindsey Georgalas-Ward. They have one daughter. Ward also has a son from a previous relationship. He has a tattoo of Mickey Mouse in the Heisman pose on his arm, along with his name in Korean.

Advocacy for Social Change

In 2006, Hines Ward became the first Korean American to win the Super Bowl MVP award. This brought him a lot of attention in media in South Korea.

In 2006, Ward visited his birthplace of Seoul for the first time since he was a baby. He used his fame to meet with multiracial Korean children. He wanted to encourage social change and acceptance for them. He told one group of children that if Korea could accept him, it could change and accept them too. Before leaving Korea, he donated $1 million to start the Hines Ward Helping Hands Foundation. This foundation helps mixed-race children in South Korea, who sometimes face discrimination.

In September 2010, President Barack Obama appointed Ward to a special commission. This group advises the President on issues affecting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Film and TV Appearances

Ward has appeared in several movies and TV shows. He was a football player in the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises. He also appeared as a "walker" (a zombie) in an episode of The Walking Dead. He was also on the Food Network show Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off.

Other Appearances

Dancing with the Stars

On May 24, 2011, Hines Ward and his dance partner Kym Johnson won season 12 of the TV show Dancing with the Stars.

* In week 7, Donnie Burns was the guest judge and scored the dances as well (first score listed is Burns').

Triathlon

In 2012, Ward started training for the 2013 Ironman World Championships. This is a very tough race that includes swimming, biking, and running long distances. He finished the Ironman Kansas 70.3 race in 5 hours, 53 minutes, and 18 seconds. On October 12, 2013, Ward completed the full Ironman World Championships. His finish time was 13 hours, 8 minutes, and 15 seconds.

2018 Winter Olympics Honorary Ambassador

Ward was chosen as an honorary ambassador for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Images for kids

• 

  Ward and the Steelers with Barack Obama in 2009

• 

  Ward attempts to break Sammy Knight's tackle during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2006.

• 

  Ward before a game in 2006

• 

  Ward in the Super Bowl parade after the Steelers Super Bowl XLIII victory

See also

In Spanish: Hines Ward para niños