TRANSACTIONS:

-           Originally a 7th round (235th pick overall) draft choice by the New York Jets in 2004.
Waived by the Jets on Sept. 6, 2004…Signed to the Jets practice squad on Sept. 7, 2004…Signed by the Giants off the Jets’ practice squad on Oct. 13, 2004.

GIANTS NOTES:

-           Established himself as a threat in the Giants offensive backfield in 2007 by finishing 2nd on the team with 602 rushing yards. He averaged 4.8 yards a carry and scored 4 touchdowns (1 receiving).
-           Ward’s 92-yard kickoff return at Washington on Dec. 5, 2004 is one of 19 the Giants have returned for a regular season touchdown in their history.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

-           Has played in 35 regular season games with 5 starts…Ward has 160 rushing attempts for 725 yards (a 4.5-yard avg.), and 3 touchdowns, caught 28 passes for 192 yards and a score and 1 touchdown and returned 39 kickoffs for 902 yards, a 23.1-yard average, and a touchdown.
-           In 2007, played in 8 games with 5 starts for career high 602 yards on 125 and 3 touchdowns…Had 26 receptions for 179 yards and 1 touchdown…Missed 4 games with ankle and groin injuries and 4 (plus the entire postseason) after fracturing his left fibula at Chicago (12/2).
-           Replaced the injured Brandon Jacobs and led the Giants’ rushing attack with 13 carries for 89 yards at Dallas (9/9/07). The 13 carries tied a career high set on Oct. 30, 2005 vs. Washington. The 89 yards established a career high. Ward did not have a rushing attempt in 2006. He also had career bests with 4 receptions for 27 yards and scored his first offensive touchdown, on a 9-yard catch.
-           Made his 1st NFL start vs. Green Bay (9/16) and finished with a career-high 15 carries for 90 yards with a long run of 26 yards…Also had 4 receptions for 35 yards.
-           Returned to the lineup after missing 4 games with an ankle and groin injury at Chicago (12/2)…Started and rushed for a career-high 154 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Ward had runs of 31 and 33 yards in the 2nd quarter to become the 1st Giants back other than Tiki Barber with 2 runs of at least 30 yards in the same game since Nov. 8, 1998, when Gary Brown did it at Dallas…Scored his 3rd rushing touchdown of the season on a 2-yard run in the 2nd quarter…Also caught 2 passes for 29 yards with a season-long reception of 17 yards…Left the game in the 4th quarter with a fractured fibula and was placed on injured reserve 2 days later.
-           In 2006, Ward played in 8 games and returned 23 kickoffs for 466 yards (20.3-yard avg.) with a long returned of 36 yards.
-           Suffered a fractured foot in training camp that forced him to miss the first 6 games on the season.
-           Re-injured his foot vs. Philadelphia (12/17) and was placed on injured reserve
-           In 2005, played in 14 games in 2005, primarily as a reserve running back and on special teams
-           Finished 2nd on the team with 123 rushing yards on 35 carries (3.5-yard avg.). Caught 2 passes for 13 yards…Finished 5th on the team with 16 special teams tackles (6 solo)
-           Placed on injured reserve on Dec. 26 after suffering a groin injury 2 days earlier at Washington.
-           Had career-high totals of 13 carries for 42 yards, plus an 8-yard reception vs. Washington (10/30).
-           Played in 5 games and was inactive for 6 games in 2004…Majority of playing time came on special teams
-           Led the Giants with a 27.3-yard kickoff return average, with 436 yards on 16 returns, including a 92-yard touchdown
-           Returned 7 kickoffs for 177 yards (25.3-yard average) with a long of 42 yards in addition to team-high 2 special teams tackles at Baltimore (12/12).
-           Gave the Giants their only points at Washington (12/5) when he returned a 3rd-quarter kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. It was the Giants’ 1st regular-season kickoff return for a touchdown since Dec. 23, 2000, when Jason Sehorn picked up an attempted onside kick and returned it 39 yards for a score vs. Jacksonville. When Willie Ponder scored on a 91-yard return vs. Pittsburgh (12/18) it was the 1st time in history the Giants returned 2 kickoffs for touchdowns in the same season.

COLLEGE:

-           Transferred to Ottawa University in Kansas for his final year in 2003, when he set NAIA single-season records with 2,061 rushing yards, 28 touchdowns and 7.8 yards per carry (263 attempts). Also had 47 yards on 4 receptions (11.8-yard avg.) in 10 games at Ottawa.
-           Gained 1,091 yards with 11 touchdowns on 197 carries (5.5-yard avg.) and caught three passes for 49 yards (16.3-yard avg.) in 20 games at Fresno State.
-           Ruled academically ineligible to play at Fresno State in 1998, he earned Freshman All-America honors the following year despite playing with a broken right hand.

OFF-THE-FIELD ACTIVITY:

-           Greeted fans and signed autographs at the Giants’ 2008 Draft Day Party at Giants Stadium.
-           Attended the United Way of NYC’s 2007 “Gridiron Gala” fundraiser dinner.
-           Signed autographs and greeted fans at Big Blue Travel’s “Giants Wrap-Up Breakfast.”
-           Attended the United Way of NYC’s 2008 “Gridiron Gala” fundraiser dinner.
-           Participated in the Giants’ Player Development High School Coaching Program, working regularly with West Side High School (Newark, N.J.).

PERSONAL:

-           Attended Valley View (Moreno Valley, CA) High.
-           Named the Sun Belt League Offensive MVP.
-           Two-time team MVP who led his squad to an 8-4 record as a senior.
-           Cousin, J.R. Redmond, was an All-America running back at Arizona State and plays for the Oakland Raiders.
-           Son of Terrie and Derrick Ward.
-           Born August 30, 1980 in Los Angeles, CA.