T. J. Ward Siblings: Meet Terron and Teirra Ward
Former NFL player T. J. Ward PHOTO/NBC Sports
Terrell R. “T. J.” Ward Jr. stands as a formidable figure in the annals of American football, renowned for his tenacious play as a safety in the National Football League (NFL).
Born on May 18, 1986, in Antioch, California, Ward emerged from a tight-knit family environment that instilled in him the discipline and drive essential for professional athletics.
Growing up in a household where sports were more than recreation, they were a pathway to opportunity, Ward honed his skills on local fields, eventually channeling his raw talent into a college career at the University of Oregon.
There, he became a standout defensive back for the Ducks, earning accolades that propelled him toward the pros.
A Super Bowl champion and multiple Pro Bowl selection, Ward’s on-field persona was that of an unrelenting enforcer, but off the field, he remains deeply connected to his roots.
Siblings
At the heart of T. J.’s personal narrative is his close relationship with his siblings, Terron and Teirra Ward, who together formed a dynamic trio shaped by shared ambitions and familial support in their Antioch hometown.
Terron Ward, the younger brother, carved his own path in the NFL as a running back and special teams contributor, most notably with the Atlanta Falcons from 2015 to 2017.
He drew inspiration from T. J.’s trailblazing footsteps, often crediting his older brother’s guidance through the rigors of professional football.
The brothers’ bond reached a poignant peak during Super Bowl week in 2017, when Terron suited up for the Falcons in Super Bowl LI, facing off against T. J.’s former team, the Denver Broncos.
Today, the Wards collaborate through the WardBoy Project, a family-driven initiative that leverages their football legacies to mentor young athletes, blending Terron’s on-field savvy with T. J.’s veteran wisdom.
Complementing the brothers’ athletic fervor is their sister, Teirra Ward, whose talents shone brightest on the track at UCLA, where she competed in sprint events with the same intensity that defined her family’s athletic ethos.
Career
Ward’s professional odyssey commenced in the 2010 NFL Draft, where the Cleveland Browns selected him in the second round, 38th overall, betting on his hard-hitting style and football IQ cultivated at Oregon.
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In Cleveland, Ward quickly established himself as a cornerstone of the secondary, logging four impactful seasons from 2010 to 2013, during which he amassed 286 tackles, six interceptions, and a reputation for bone-jarring hits that terrorized opposing offenses.
His tenure with the Browns was marked by resilience, as he navigated team rebuilds and defensive schemes, emerging as a vocal leader who thrived in the trenches.
Seeking a fresh chapter, Ward signed with the Denver Broncos in 2014, where he found his stride amid a championship-caliber defense orchestrated by coordinator Jack Del Rio.
Over three seasons, Ward’s contributions were pivotal in elevating the Broncos’ unit to elite status, culminating in a triumphant run to Super Bowl 50.
His instincts and physicality complemented stars like Von Miller, forming a symbiotic force that dismantled aerial attacks and bolstered the run defense.
Ward’s Broncos era showcased his adaptability, as he transitioned seamlessly into a scheme that demanded both coverage finesse and run-stopping ferocity, logging 215 tackles and four interceptions in that span.
Ward capped his NFL journey with a one-year stint at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2017, reuniting with familiar faces and providing veteran stability to a young secondary.
Though injuries nipped at his heels toward the end, his 119 combined tackles that season reaffirmed his enduring value as a hard-nosed competitor.
Retiring after the 2017 campaign, Ward left the league with over 620 tackles, 10 interceptions, and a legacy of intimidation that echoed long after his final snap.
Beyond the field, he has pivoted to entrepreneurship, co-founding a sports agency and podcast while staying immersed in football’s evolving landscape.
Accolades
Ward’s three Pro Bowl nods, in 2013 with the Browns and consecutively in 2014 and 2015 with the Broncos, affirm his peerless standing among NFL safeties.
These selections were no flukes; they stemmed from seasons where Ward anchored secondaries that ranked among the league’s stingiest, forcing turnovers and disrupting rhythm with surgical precision.
The pinnacle of Ward’s hardware haul arrived on February 7, 2016, when he hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a key cog in the Broncos’ 24-10 upset over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
His contributions extended beyond stats, interceptions and sacks, to the intangible leadership that galvanized a defense facing an MVP-caliber opponent in Cam Newton.
In the broader tapestry of his career, Ward’s accolades extend to his collegiate roots, where he garnered All-Pac-10 honors at Oregon, and even his high school days at De La Salle, a powerhouse program that foreshadowed his pro potential.