Texans release Racine native Jimmie Ward, closing the chapter after 11 year NFL career

RACINE, WI – The Houston Texans will release veteran safety Jimmie Ward, closing another chapter in one of the most accomplished football careers ever produced out of Racine.

The story was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.

Sign up for daily newsletters from Racine County Eye.

Houston will save $750,000 against the salary cap with the move. Ward did not play this past season after beginning training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list while recovering from offseason foot surgery. The Texans appear ready to move in another direction at safety opposite Calen Bullock for the 2026 season, likely addressing the position in the draft or free agency.

Help us launch education coverage for Racine County
Families deserve clear reporting on school funding, board decisions, and student success. With your support, we’ll cover it all.
Every dollar you give is matched up to $50,000.

But contracts and cap numbers don’t define a career. And in Ward’s case, they certainly don’t define his legacy.

At 33 years old, the Racine native leaves behind something much bigger than a roster transaction; he leaves a blueprint.

Ward remains the only first-round NFL draft pick in Racine history.

Humble beginnings in Racine

Born in Racine, Ward’s path would eventually take him south, where he was a stand-out star in high school and later at Northern Illinois University. But,Racine was always home.

And when the San Francisco 49ers selected him with the 30th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, that moment didn’t just belong to him. It belonged to the city that raised him.

Being drafted in the first round is rare. Being drafted in the first round from a mid-major college is rarer. Being the only first-rounder in your city’s history is something else entirely.

From overlooked recruit to first-round pick

Ward wasn’t a blue-chip recruit coming out of high school. He arrived at Northern Illinois as an under-the-radar prospect and left as one of the most decorated defensive backs in program history.

At NIU, he earned First-Team All-MAC honors and Third-Team All-American recognition. He became known for his physicality, intelligence and ability to make impact plays by blocking punts, forcing turnovers, and delivering momentum-shifting hits.

Jimmie Ward with Xavian Pope 11 at John Bryant Center in 2022. Photo submitted

NFL scouts took notice.

For young athletes back home in Racine watching the draft that night, it was proof that someone from their streets could reach the biggest stage in football.

A decade in the league

The average NFL career lasts just over three years. Ward played more than a decade.

Across his time with the 49ers and the Houston Texans, Ward appeared in more than 120 games, recording over 500 tackles, double-digit interceptions, multiple forced fumbles and three defensive touchdowns.

He wasn’t just present; he was productive.

Ward lined up at safety, nickel, and wherever coaches needed him. His versatility became one of his defining traits. He also started in Super Bowl LIV with San Francisco, recording 11 tackles on the sport’s biggest stage.

Ward also battled injuries throughout his career, including the foot setbacks that eventually sidelined him in Houston. Still, teammates and coaches consistently described him as steady, dependable and respected in the locker room.

Leadership isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s earned.

A Juneteenth camp that sparked a football journey

Ward’s influence extends beyond the professional game.

On Juneteenth Day in 2022, dozens of young athletes gathered in Racine for a youth football camp hosted by the hometown NFL standout. For many of the roughly 100 kids in attendance, the event offered a rare opportunity to meet and learn from a professional player who grew up in their own community.

For some families, the experience became much more than a day of drills.

Xavian Pope, 14, one of the students who attended the camp, said the experience helped him make an important decision about playing football.

“My mom was afraid of me playing football because of the injury risks,” Pope said. “But after going to that camp, I told her I understood the risks, and I was willing to take the chance to play.”

For Pope’s family, the moment became an unexpected turning point.

His father, Vern Pope, said they first heard about the camp during a Juneteenth celebration in Racine.

“We heard about the Jimmie Ward camp at Juneteenth in Racine, and I signed my son up for a birthday gift,” Vern Pope said. “He had never played football before that day. After the camp, a local coach noticed him and invited him to play. From there, it was history.”

Since then, Pope has gone on to become a multi-time champion and now starts at wide receiver and defensive back for his team.

What comes next for Ward

Whether Ward has played his final NFL snap remains an open question.

When asked recently whether he plans to continue playing or if this could be the end of his career, Ward was candid about the physical toll that more than a decade in the league can take.

“Man, my body is beat up,” Ward said in the ESPN story announcing the end of his time with the Texans. “I can play another year if it’s worth it.”

Ward’s Impact Beyond Football

Ward’s influence has also extended beyond the football field. In addition to his playing career, he is the author of the children’s book Jimmie Ward’s Nutritional ABC’s for Active Dads, a book aimed at encouraging healthy habits, nutrition awareness and positive routines for families and young readers.

At the height of his career, Ward was also recognized among the league’s elite, earning a place on the NFL Top 100 Players list. This honor is even more special because it comes from players across the league.

Only about 1.6 percent of high school football players ever play Division I football. Of those, roughly one percent make the NFL. Of those who make it, only a fraction are drafted in the first round. Fewer still last ten seasons.

Ward did all of it. From Racine to the first round. From overlooked recruit to Super Bowl starter. From local talent to NFL veteran.

Donate today

Support credible, community-based public service journalism.

Like this:

Like Loading…