Charvarius Ward doesn't mince words.
He knows he's good and he knows he's a winner. The 28-year-old cornerback oozes confidence, built by years of work on and off the football field. He's versatile, he's experienced and he's hungry to prove himself as one of the best in the league – and he's ready do it with the Colts. The Colts are ready for him, too.
"I feel like they wanted me more than anything," Ward said Thursday. "That shows me that they respect my game, they respect me. And I feel like the more you respect me, the harder I play for you, the harder I go."
Why was it, exactly, that the Colts were so aggressive in their pursuit of Ward?
Simple.
"I'm a great player," Ward said with a smile. "I would assume that's why."
In his seven-year NFL career, Ward has tallied 435 tackles (321 solo), 70 passes defensed, 10 interceptions, three forced fumbles and one sack. And in playing for the Kansas City Chiefs (2018-21) and the San Francisco 49ers (2021-24), he has appeared in 17 postseason games and started in three Super Bowls. He has recorded at least 10 passes defensed in four of his six seasons as a full-time starter, and held opposing quarterbacks to a completion percentage of 55 percent and an 82.5 passer rating when targeting him in coverage.
In 2023, Ward earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors as he posted a league-high 23 passes defensed (five interceptions, 18 pass-breakups).
"I can press, I can tackle, I can play off," Ward said. "I can travel with the best receivers. I feel like I can do it all as a corner. My game is versatile, and I just feel like I'm a CB1 – a great cornerback."
In his first two seasons with the 49ers, Ward traveled with opposing teams' best receivers – and it sounds like he'll have the chance to do it again, as the cornerback said Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo told him he would be able to travel with the best receivers this season.
"They're going to let me do my thing," Ward explained. "Be physical, be aggressive, and just be me."
"I'm just ready to go out there and show I'm one of the best corners in the game again," Ward added. "I'm just hungry and I'm ready to prove myself."
Ward doesn't intend to only make an impact on the field, though – he's also ready to be a leader and set an example in his new locker room. Whether it's via the confidence he carries himself with, his work ethic or his history of playing in big games, Ward wants to elevate the whole team.
And in his mind, that could start simply by helping the man next to him.
"Maybe I can elevate the guys in my room, all the guys in the DB room, and maybe they can impact a linebacker, and maybe a linebacker can impact a defensive lineman, you know what I'm saying," Ward said. "It's a trickle-down effect. I impact one guy, he impacts another guy, and it helps the whole team."
"I don't do a lot of talking all the time, but I work hard, I grind every day and I know what it takes to win a championship," he added. "I know what it takes to make the playoffs. I know this team's been super close to the playoffs the last couple of years, so I'm going to try to help these guys get over the hump and make the playoffs."
