Indianapolis Colts cornerback Charvarius Ward and his fiancée, Monique Cook, have welcomed their third child together nearly two years after the death of their daughter, Amani Joy.
Cook shared the happy news on Instagram on Wednesday with a series of adorable photos of their newborn son. In one snapshot, the little one wore a football-themed onesie with the words “baby brother” embroidered on it.
“Chosen Mani Ward,” Cook captioned the post.
Ward chimed in the comments, writing, “Say Twinnnnn,” before sharing the photo to his Instagram Story.
Chosen was born on Sept. 28, nine days before his Oct. 7 due date. Cook went into labor shortly after attending the Colts’ game against the Houston Texans on Sept. 27.
Speaking to reporters after practice a few days later, Ward shared an update on his fiancée and their baby boy.
“He’s doing good, man. He’s breathing well on his own,” he said. “They’ll be discharged today and I’ll pick them up after practice from the hospital, so major blessings, man.”
The new addition joins older brother Charvarius Ward Jr., who was born in December 2024.
Ward confirmed that his son’s middle name, Mani, honors his late daughter, Amani, who died on Oct. 28, 2024, at just 23 months old.
Born prematurely with Down syndrome, Amani faced several health challenges, including open-heart surgery in 2023 to repair two holes in her heart.
When announcing her death, Ward described his daughter as “the best blessing we could have asked for” and shared how much she had taught their family.
“She taught us to have patience, trust, and a positive outlook on life,” he wrote. “She showed us true strength and bravery.”
The NFL star has been open about his grief. Earlier this year, he revealed that returning to California after Amani’s death brought back painful memories and triggered symptoms of PTSD.
As he continues to cope with that loss, Ward says his children give him even more motivation on the football field.
“I’m just trying to ball for my kids and give them something to be proud of,” he told reporters. “I’ve got to catch a couple picks and get them a ball.”
