Alex Ward Bio
Alex Ward is an American professional football long snapper currently in the National Football League (NFL). After completing his college career with the UCF Knights, he joined the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and has since continued his professional career with the Las Vegas Raiders. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds, Ward has built a reputation for reliability in one of football’s most specialized roles.
Born and raised in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Ward developed into a consistent long snapper through years of training and college competition. His career arc from high school standout to NFL specialist reflects the steady progression of a specialist whose work is rarely celebrated but is essential to team success.
Early Life and Background
Alex Ward was born on April 24, 1999, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, a coastal community in the Florida Panhandle. He grew up in the same city where he would later attend high school, spending his formative years surrounded by the football culture of the region. From an early age, Ward was drawn to football, and his physical development through his teenage years positioned him well for the specialized role he would eventually embrace.
Ward attended Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, where he began developing the snapping skills that would become the foundation of his athletic career. His high school experience allowed him to refine his technique and build the consistency required for the long snapper position, a role that demands precision on every play.
Path to American Football
Following high school, Ward committed to the University of Central Florida (UCF), joining a Knights program that was rising in national prominence. He enrolled in 2017 and would spend six seasons with the program, taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His lengthy college tenure allowed him to develop physically and refine his craft under the UCF coaching staff.
Ward redshirted his true freshman year at UCF and spent his redshirt freshman season serving as a backup long snapper, learning the nuances of the position at the collegiate level. Over time, he earned the starting role and became a steady presence for the Knights’ special teams units. As a redshirt senior, he was recognized as a finalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award, an honor given to the nation’s top long snapper. He returned for a sixth season and earned Mannelly Award finalist honors for a second consecutive year, playing in 47 games across his college career.
After the conclusion of his college career, Ward participated in the 2023 Senior Bowl and the 2023 Hula Bowl, two of the most prominent all-star games for NFL draft prospects. These appearances gave him additional exposure to NFL scouts and front-office decision makers, helping him showcase his snapping accuracy and consistency against top competition.
Alex Ward Career
Early Career (2017–2022)
Ward’s early career was defined by his time at UCF, where he steadily climbed from redshirt to backup to starter to award finalist. He spent his first two seasons learning the system and waiting for his opportunity, then seized the starting long snapper role and held it for multiple years. His consistency and accuracy became hallmarks of his play, and his recognition as a two-time Patrick Mannelly Award finalist cemented his status as one of the top specialists in college football during his tenure.
By the time his college career concluded, Ward had appeared in 47 games for the Knights, providing reliable snaps on field goals, extra points, and punts. His participation in the 2023 Senior Bowl and 2023 Hula Bowl gave him a platform to demonstrate his skills to NFL evaluators and prepared him for the transition to professional football.
Los Angeles Rams Breakthrough (2023–2025)
Alex Ward signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2023, shortly after the conclusion of the 2023 NFL draft. His path to the roster required beating out competition during training camp and the preseason, and on August 29, 2023, the Rams announced that he had made the initial 53-man roster, a significant achievement for an undrafted specialist.
During the 2023 season, Ward appeared in 13 games, contributing as the team’s primary long snapper and gaining valuable NFL experience. In 2024, he participated in all 17 games, demonstrating durability and the trust of the Rams’ coaching staff. His role involved delivering consistent snaps on field goals, extra points, and punts, contributing to the Rams’ special teams operations throughout the season.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2026–Present)
The 2025 season brought challenges for the Rams’ placekicking operation, with the team experiencing numerous blocked or missed kicks that proved costly in early-season losses. After handling snaps in the team’s first eight games of the 2025 season, Ward was inactive for the Rams’ Week 10 game against the San Francisco 49ers and was replaced as long snapper by veteran Jake McQuaide. On November 10, 2025, Ward was released by the Rams.
On January 21, 2026, Ward signed a reserve/futures contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, opening a new chapter in his professional career. The move provided him an opportunity to compete for a roster spot and continue his NFL journey with a new organization. As of the most recent reporting, Ward is listed as an active member of the Las Vegas Raiders roster.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the notable achievements of Ward’s career, he was part of a UCF team that earned Colley Matrix national champion recognition in 2017, a statistical honor that reflected the Knights’ strong performance that season. His selection to two consecutive Patrick Mannelly Award finalist lists stands as a significant individual milestone, and his signing with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2023 represented a key career breakthrough.
Alex Ward Career Wins
As a long snapper, Alex Ward’s contributions are measured less in traditional win statistics and more in the consistency and accuracy of his snaps on field goals, extra points, and punts. Over the course of his professional career through the 2025 season, Ward has appeared in 38 NFL games, recording 2 total tackles while serving as a reliable specialist for his teams.
NFL Highlights
Ward’s professional highlights include making the Los Angeles Rams’ initial 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent in 2023, appearing in 13 games during his rookie season, and playing in all 17 games during the 2024 campaign. His career win totals as a specialist are not separated in the same manner as skill position players, but his consistent availability and accuracy defined his tenure with the Rams. He went on to sign a reserve/futures contract with the Las Vegas Raiders in January 2026, continuing his NFL career.
Other Performances
Beyond his regular-season NFL appearances, Ward participated in the 2023 Senior Bowl and 2023 Hula Bowl, two of college football’s premier all-star showcases. His play in those games contributed to his draft evaluation and ultimately helped him earn his opportunity with the Los Angeles Rams. He also earned Colley Matrix national champion recognition in 2017 as part of the UCF Knights.
Alex Ward Family
Personal Life
Alex Ward was raised in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and attended Choctawhatchee High School in his hometown. He pursued his college education at the University of Central Florida, where he spent six seasons developing as a long snapper. Detailed public information about his immediate family members is not widely available in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a turning point in Alex Ward’s professional career. After spending the 2023 and 2024 seasons as the Los Angeles Rams’ primary long snapper, Ward entered 2025 with the opportunity to build on his growing résumé. The Rams’ placekicking operation faced challenges early in the season, with numerous blocked or missed kicks that proved critical in pair of early-season losses, putting additional scrutiny on the special teams unit.
Ward handled snapping duties for the Rams through the first eight games of the 2025 season before being made inactive for the team’s Week 10 game against the San Francisco 49ers. Veteran long snapper Jake McQuaide took over the role, and on November 10, 2025, the Rams released Ward. The move opened the door for a fresh opportunity elsewhere.
Ward signed a reserve/futures contract with the Las Vegas Raiders on January 21, 2026, positioning himself to compete for a roster spot heading into the next phase of his career. Through 38 career NFL games and 2 total tackles, he has demonstrated the durability and consistency teams seek in the long snapper role. His outlook with the Raiders offers a chance to reestablish himself as an active contributor on an NFL special teams unit.
