Jonathan Ward Bio
Jonathan Ward, born on September 30, 1997, in Kankakee, Illinois, is an American professional football running back who currently plays in the National Football League (NFL). He has built a journeyman career since entering the league in 2020, suiting up for multiple franchises before landing with the Baltimore Ravens. A former Central Michigan Chippewa, Ward has spent most of his time on practice squads while still earning opportunities to contribute on offense and special teams.
Early Life and Background
Jonathan Ward grew up in Kankakee, Illinois, a small city known across the region for its deep athletic traditions. He attended Bishop McNamara High School in Kankakee, where he developed into a versatile running back capable of carrying the ball between the tackles and catching passes out of the backfield. His size and balance made him an attractive recruit for Mid-American Conference programs looking for a workhorse back.
Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and listed at 202 pounds, Ward possessed the compact build of an every-down back rather than a scatback. Coming out of high school, he drew interest from several Mid-American Conference schools and ultimately committed to Central Michigan University, a program that has produced several long-time NFL contributors. His early football foundation in Kankakee, combined with disciplined high school coaching, prepared him for the rigors of FBS competition.
Path to American Football
Ward joined the Central Michigan Chippewas in 2016 and spent four seasons developing his game at the collegiate level. He became a central figure in the Chippewas offense, finishing his college career with 2,539 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns on 473 carries. He also contributed 98 receptions for 909 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns, demonstrating reliable hands in addition to his between-the-tackles running.
His strong junior season in 2017 earned Ward Second-team All-MAC honors, establishing him as one of the top backs in the conference. After that breakout year, opposing defenses keyed on him more aggressively, and he followed with a Third-team All-MAC selection in 2019. Although he went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, his production at Central Michigan and his all-around skill set drew attention from professional scouts.
Jonathan Ward Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Jonathan Ward signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent on April 25, 2020, beginning his professional journey in the NFC West. He was waived during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, but was re-signed to the practice squad the very next day. Over the course of the 2020 regular season, Ward was repeatedly elevated from the practice squad to the active roster, giving the Cardinals short-term depth at running back.
He made his NFL debut on September 27, 2020, against the Detroit Lions, and was promoted to the active roster on October 6, 2020, after several back-and-forth moves. Ward recorded his first career reception, an 11-yard touchdown, in Week 17 of the 2020 season against the Los Angeles Rams, a small but memorable milestone in a Cardinals 18–7 loss. He spent the 2021 season with the organization as well, continuing to develop as a depth piece before a hamstring injury led to a stint on injured reserve in October 2022, and his release on November 22, 2022.
Arizona Cardinals Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Ward began his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals after going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, joining a roster that featured strong veteran leadership. Although he was never a starter, he built a reputation as a reliable short-yardage runner and special teams contributor. His first career receiving touchdown against the Rams in 2020 served as his clearest breakthrough moment during the early phase of his career.
After his release from Arizona in November 2022, Ward quickly bounced to a new organization. He was signed to the New York Jets practice squad on November 29, 2022, though his time there lasted just a week before his release on December 6, 2022. The brief Jets stint reflected the volatile nature of practice squad movement across the league for undrafted backs.
Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2022–2024)
On December 14, 2022, Ward was signed to the Tennessee Titans practice squad, giving him an opportunity to compete in the AFC South. He was promoted to the active roster on December 29, 2022, and spent the bulk of the 2023 campaign bouncing between the active roster and practice squad. He was waived, re-signed, promoted, and waived again over a span of several months, illustrating how fringe backs must constantly prove themselves in the NFL.
On May 21, 2024, Ward signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, joining a proud AFC North franchise with a strong tradition of physical, run-oriented football. He was released on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad, then promoted to the active roster on October 28, 2024. Following another series of moves, Ward signed a reserve/future contract with Pittsburgh on January 20, 2025, before being released on June 19, 2025.
Baltimore Ravens Era (2025–Present)
Ward signed a contract with the New York Giants on August 4, 2025, but was released during final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, just a few weeks later. He was then signed by the New England Patriots’ practice squad on October 28, 2025, and continued his pattern of moving on and off practice squads. He was released by New England on November 25, 2025, after a brief stretch of re-signings and releases throughout November.
On December 2, 2025, Ward signed with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad, joining an organization known for its physical run game and creative use of backs in the passing game. His experience as a pass-catching back out of the backfield makes him a natural fit for the Ravens’ offensive system. As of late 2025, he is working to earn an opportunity on Baltimore’s active roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ward is recognized as a physical, between-the-tackles runner with strong hands as a receiver out of the backfield. His compact frame gives him a low center of gravity, helping him absorb contact and break arm tackles in short-yardage situations. He has also developed into a reliable special teams contributor, which has helped him remain on NFL rosters year after year.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Ward’s career came in Week 17 of the 2020 season, when he caught his first career touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Rams. He is also one of the more traveled undrafted running backs of his draft class, having spent time with the Cardinals, Jets, Titans, Steelers, Giants, and Patriots before reaching the Ravens.
Jonathan Ward Career Wins
Jonathan Ward has not been a featured starter for most of his NFL career, so headline victory counts are limited. Instead, his wins come in the form of roster survival, production in short stints, and the ability to be elevated from the practice squad when teams need depth. His top highlights include his first career receiving touchdown in 2020, multiple practice squad elevations across several franchises, and a steady career that began with the Arizona Cardinals in 2020.
NFL Career Highlights
Ward’s most notable on-field highlight remains his 11-yard receiving touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in December 2020. He has also recorded 91 career rushing yards on 22 attempts for a 4.1-yard average, along with six career receptions for 52 yards and one receiving touchdown, providing a useful profile as a change-of-pace back. Across his professional career, he has appeared in multiple regular season games and has been a frequent elevation target for teams seeking short-term help at running back.
Other Wins and Performances
At the collegiate level, Ward was a Second-team All-MAC selection in 2017 and a Third-team All-MAC selection in 2019, both of which were significant honors during his time at Central Michigan. He finished his college career with 28 rushing touchdowns and four receiving touchdowns, a strong overall touchdown total for a four-year contributor.
Jonathan Ward Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Jonathan Ward’s immediate family is limited, and he is not widely known to come from a multi-generational football lineage. He grew up in Kankakee, Illinois, where he developed his passion for the game during his childhood and adolescent years.
Personal Life
Jonathan Ward is professionally focused on extending his NFL career and has not publicly shared extensive details about his personal or family life. He has remained dedicated to training and preparation throughout his journeyman career, working to earn roster spots wherever opportunities arise.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a whirlwind for Jonathan Ward, marked by constant movement across the league. After signing a reserve/future contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers in January 2025, he was released in June, then signed with the New York Giants in August before being cut during final roster cuts. He joined the New England Patriots’ practice squad in late October 2025, with a series of releases and re-signings through November, before ultimately being released on November 25, 2025.
On December 2, 2025, Ward signed with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad, joining a team contending in the AFC North and built around a strong run game. His experience as a pass-catching running back and his special teams value make him a natural fit for Baltimore’s system, and he will look to earn an active-roster promotion as the regular season winds down. Heading into the final weeks of 2025, Ward’s focus is on contributing wherever the Ravens need him and using the opportunity to extend his NFL career into 2026.