Charvarius Ward is leaving the San Francisco 49ers in free agency and signing with the Indianapolis Colts.

Ward spent the last three seasons with the 49ers after beginning his career with the Kansas City Chiefs. He enjoyed a quality stint in San Francisco and made his first Pro Bowl appearance during his career-best season in 2023.

Ward made 72 tackles and logged a career-best five interceptions in 2023. He led the NFL in pass defenses with 23 and was named a second-team All-Pro for his performance.

Ward wasn’t able to repeat his success in 2024 as he navigated a trying season off-the-field. His daughter, Amani Joy, died at in late October after a long-term battle with heart problems. She would have turned 2 years old in November.

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Ward missed three games after his daughter’s death and acknowledged after the season it would be difficult for him to play again in California.

“I’ve got a lot of trauma in California,” Ward explained, per ESPN. “I had a lot of great times, but the worst thing that’s ever happened to me, that’s probably going to ever happen to me – knock on wood – happened in California. It can just bring up bad memories. Every time I get on a plane and come back to California, Santa Clara, San Jose, and show up here, it just brings up bad memories.

“I go through that every day. I go home every night by myself because my girl, she doesn’t want to come back to California because of what happened. So, it is hard being alone, and she’s my strength right now. I need her, and so her not being able to be around me if I’m in California, it’d be tough.”

Ward never fully ruled out returning to the 49ers, but he will now get a fresh start with the Colts. He’s the second significant signing in the secondary for Indianapolis after the franchise inked a deal with former Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum on Monday as well.