49ers' Charvarius Ward announces death of his 1-year-old daughter

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The young daughter of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward has died after suffering heart problems.

Ward posted on Instagram that his daughter Amani Joy died Monday morning. She would be 2 years old in November.

“We are heartbroken that our beautiful little girl Amani Joy passed away Monday morning,” Ward wrote on Instagram on Tuesday. “She was the best blessing we could have asked for and her joyful spirit had us smiling from ear to ear. She taught us to have patience, trust and a positive outlook on life. She showed us true strength and bravery. She overcame.” She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy. The privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes has forever changed us for the better. We will miss and love you forever, Amani Joy.

During a December appearance on former teammate Arik Armstead's podcast, Ward explained that Amani Joy was born with Down syndrome and two holes in her heart, one of which required surgery.

The Niners, who are bowing out this week, said in a statement Tuesday that the organization was “devastated” by her death.

“Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to everyone around her with her sweet demeanor and infectious laugh,” the team said in their statement. “We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique and send them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”

During his breakout 2023 season, in which he earned his first Pro Bowl nomination and was a second-team All-Pro, Ward repeatedly pointed to the birth of his daughter in 2022 as his inspiration.