Jihad Ward facts for kids
Ward with the Oakland Raiders in 2016
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| No. 53 – Tennessee Titans | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | May 11, 1994 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 285 lb (129 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Edward W. Bok Technical (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
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| College: |
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| NFL Draft: | 2016 / Round: 2 / Pick: 44 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Jihad Ward (pronounced jih-HAHD; born on May 11, 1994) is an American professional football player. He plays as a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini. The Oakland Raiders chose him in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft. Ward has also played for several other NFL teams, including the Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, and Minnesota Vikings.
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Early Life and High School Football
Jihad Ward grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He went to Edward W. Bok Technical High School. Interestingly, he didn't start playing football until he was in his second year of high school.
When he first started, he played as a wide receiver and a safety. Later, in his junior year, he changed positions to become a defensive end. This is a player who tries to stop the opposing team's offense. Ward was recognized for his skills, earning "All-City" honors in both 2010 and 2011. Besides football, he also played basketball in high school.
College Football Journey
Starting at Globe Tech
After high school, Ward attended Globe Institute of Technology for two years. He worked on improving his grades there. In 2013, he played in 7 games. During this time, he made 26 tackles, which means he stopped the player with the ball. He also had 2 sacks, which is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.
Playing for Illinois
In 2014, Ward moved to the University of Illinois. He became a starter at defensive end in his fourth game. That season, he made 51 tackles and 3 sacks. He also recovered 4 fumbles, which means he picked up the ball after an offensive player dropped it. This led the entire conference! He also forced 2 fumbles and had one pass defended, meaning he blocked or deflected a pass.
In his senior year, he started all 12 games. He played both defensive end and defensive tackle, which are positions on the defensive line. He recorded 53 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He also defended 2 passes and had one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. In one game against the University of Iowa, he had his best game with 11 tackles.
Over his last two years in college, Ward had a total of 104 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. He also defended three passes.
Professional Football Career
Getting Ready for the NFL Draft
Before the 2016 NFL draft, football experts thought Ward would be chosen in the second or third round. They noted he was very athletic for his size. He could play different defensive line positions. Experts also believed he could become a good pass rusher in the NFL. However, they also thought he needed to get stronger and improve his balance.
Ward was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, where players show off their skills. He also participated in Illinois' "Pro Day," where he performed even better. Scouts from all 32 NFL teams came to watch him.
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 5+1⁄8 in (1.96 m) |
297 lb (135 kg) |
33+7⁄8 in (0.86 m) |
9+3⁄8 in (0.24 m) |
5.09 s | 1.80 s | 2.96 s | 4.63 s | 7.38 s | 28.0 in (0.71 m) |
9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) |
22 reps | |
| All values from NFL Scouting Combine/Pro Day | ||||||||||||
Time with the Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders picked Jihad Ward in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft. He was the 44th player chosen overall. He had a knee injury that needed surgery, which might have caused him to be drafted a bit later. In his first year, Ward played in all 16 games and started 13 of them. He finished with 30 tackles.
In 2017, Ward had surgery on his left foot after an injury. This kept him from playing much of the season. He only appeared in five games that year.
Moving to the Dallas Cowboys
On April 28, 2018, the Raiders traded Ward to the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys' defensive coordinator, Rod Marinelli, had coached Ward before. However, the Cowboys released Ward on September 1, 2018, during their final roster cuts.
Playing for the Indianapolis Colts
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On September 3, 2018, the Indianapolis Colts signed Ward to their practice squad. A practice squad is a group of players who train with the team but are not on the main roster. Soon after, on September 13, 2018, the Colts moved him to their active roster, meaning he could play in games.
Ward was placed on injured reserve on October 26, 2018, because of an ankle injury. Even though he only played in six games in 2018, he managed to get three sacks. The Colts released him on October 1, 2019.
Joining the Baltimore Ravens
On October 7, 2019, Ward signed with the Baltimore Ravens. In the 2019 season, he played in 14 games and recorded one sack.
He re-signed with the Ravens on March 21, 2020. During the 2020 season, he played in ten games. He had three sacks, 16 total tackles, and defended two passes.
With the Jacksonville Jaguars
On March 17, 2021, Ward signed a one-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played in all 17 games that season and started one. He recorded two sacks and 32 total tackles.
Time with the New York Giants
Ward signed with the New York Giants on March 21, 2022. He played in all 17 games and started 11 of them. He had a career-high 43 tackles and three sacks that year.
He re-signed with the Giants on March 29, 2023. In 2023, he played in all 17 games again and started nine. He achieved another career-high with five sacks.
Playing for the Minnesota Vikings
On March 20, 2024, Ward signed with the Minnesota Vikings. He finished the 2024 season with one sack, ten tackles, one pass defended, and one fumble recovery.
Current Team: Tennessee Titans
On July 24, 2025, Ward signed with his current team, the Tennessee Titans.
Personal Life
Jihad Ward is a Muslim. He has mentioned that his name, Jihad, is common in his hometown of Philadelphia. He understands that the name can sometimes be misunderstood because of negative ideas associated with the term.
