Jimmie Ward has been released by the Houston Texans, with the veteran safety leaving after a difficult 12 months personally and failing to make a single appearance for the team in 2025.
The 34-year-old Ward missed the campaign with a foot injury sustained late in the 2024 season and his departure saves the Texans $750,000 against the salary cap.
But while he has not been able to make it onto a football field, Ward has had plenty of attention for the wrong reasons.
He was arrested in June 2025 on third-degree family assault after allegedly choking his fiancee – with whom he was in a relationship for several years – in what she said was a meth-fueled rage where he allegedly threatened to kill her.
She then later filed a civil lawsuit seeking damages of $20million and claiming that Ward was ‘under the influence of methamphetamines, specifically, crystal meth,’ when he slapped and choked her before forcing her into a sex act.’
Ward, however, did not face any criminal charges in the end. A grand jury declined to indict him and didn’t find probable cause that Ward committed the crimes against the woman.
Houston Texans have released veteran safety Jimmie Ward, who now might retire
Ward was accused of threatening to kill his fiancee in a crystal-meth fueled sexual assault
The Texans said at the time that they would let the law take its course with Ward and the team has not issued any further explanation over their decision on Monday to part ways with him.
Given Ward’s injury history, however, the news will not be a surprise to many Texans fans. According to KPRC 2 Houston, Ward is now considering if he wants to keep on playing in the NFL.
Ward has spent most of his career with the San Francisco 49ers, who picked him in the first round of the 2014 Draft. The defensive back played in the 2024 and 2020 Super Bowls that they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs on both occasions.
He joined the Texans in 2023 on a two-year, $10.5m deal that got extended by a year in 2024.
Ward played 10 times for the team that year, recording 48 tackles and two interceptions.
The Texans, who lost in the playoffs to Super Bowl runners up New England Patriots, also announced an eye-catching trade on Monday.
They brought in running back David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions for offensive lineman Juice Scuggs.
The Lions will also receive a 2026 fourth-round draft pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
