Former Miami Hurricanes QB Cam Ward was a consensus No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Tenneessee Titans did what was expected of them, and selected Ward with the first pick in the draft.
But his journey to the top of the draft board hasn’t been easy, as Ward was a zero-star recruit coming out of high school. What has been smooth for him and perhaps a big factor in his rise is the overwhelming support of his parents, who have been at nearly all of his games.
Who Are Cam Ward’s Parents?
Ward was born to Calvin and Patrice Ward on May 25, 2002, in West Columbia, Texas. He’s the oldest of their four children. Both of his parents are competitive by nature and have passed that drive on to their son.
“I’ll get so into the game that I completely tune out the people around us,” Calvin told the Miami Herald. “I don’t get nervous because he’s been brought up and taught that the game isn’t over until the clock hits zero. So I know regardless of whether he’s having a great game or not, the team is still going to have a chance… He’s gonna compete until the clock hits zero.”
Patrice could be credited more for Ward’s competitive spirit. She spent nearly 25 years coaching high school basketball before retiring to support her son, while Calvin works as a fuel buyer for a nuclear power plant.
“We set the standard for the kids,” Patrice said. “If you want to be better than somebody else, you better outwork them.”
Calvin and Patrice have attended nearly all of Ward’s collegiate games. They were present for all 44 games he played at Incarnate Word and Washington State. While there’s no confirmation if they attended all of his Miami games, it’s likely, as flying to Miami would be easier for them than traveling to Washington.
From Incarnate Word to Washington State and then to Miami, Ward improved each year (except for his first year at Washington) and steadily climbed draft boards. In his final college season, he threw for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns, completing 67.2% of his passes with just seven interceptions.
Now, Ward’s parents will have the opportunity to see their son leading an NFL franchise in Tennessee.
How Many Siblings Does Ward Have?
Ward is the youngest of Calvin and Patrice’s four children. He has two sisters and a brother, and athleticism runs in the family.
Ward’s brother, Alton, graduated from Texas A&M University. His sister Aaliyah is a science teacher and the head basketball coach at Columbia High School. His other sister, Chantel, competed in shot put and discus at Houston Baptist University before transferring to San Jose State University.
Ward made his NFL preseason debut last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Here’s a preview of his next game.
Previewing Falcons vs. Titans Preseason Week 2 Game
The Atlanta Falcons come into Week 2 of the preseason following a 17-10 loss to the Detroit Lions last week. Starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is unlikely to play against the Tennessee Titans, but it will be a great opportunity for other players to make a positive impact.
The Falcons have a pretty good roster, and anything less than making the playoffs will be a failure for them this season. As a result, their players need to step up in the remaining preseason games and be ready to start on a high note in Week 1 against the Buccaneers.
The Titans lost 29-7 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their preseason opener. However, their first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cam Ward, impressed everyone despite not playing much.
Against the Buccaneers, he completed 5/8 of his throws for 67 yards. People around the league are high on the Titans’ rookie, and it will be interesting to see how he plays against the Falcons on Friday night.
The Titans’ fans and organization will be happy even if the team has a poor record as long as Ward has a stellar rookie season. Head coach Brian Callahan is under pressure, and a poor season from the rookie quarterback could cost him his job. Hopefully, he will get the best out of Ward, similar to what he did with Joe Burrow during his time in Cincinnati.
