Each week, I get to sit down with different 49ers players and alumni for the team’s only player-focused podcast, discussing upcoming game week and walking players through fan-submitted questions about football, life and everything else. Defensive back Jimmie Ward joined the 49ers “You’ve Got Mail” podcast hosted by Manscaped to share more about his nine seasons with San Francisco and discuss his interests off the field.
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Here are five things we learned about Ward:
Ward is originally from Racine, Wisconsin and still has ties to Badger State. Many of his family are still diehard Green Bay Packers fans, and he shared some memories of playing at Lambeau Field.
Ward: “A lot of my family members are Packers fans. Some of them are 49ers fans because I play here. I have a cousin, Caron Butler, who used to play in the NBA, and he’s coming to a 49ers game. , especially when we play the Packers. He’ll be like, ‘Man, cuz, you know the Packers are my team, but I’m going to root for you.'”
“I know I have to go out (Lambeau Field) and play. If you ever see my Packers game, I have some decent games because I know I have a lot of family members watching.”
During his nine seasons with the team, the veteran defensive back has definitely gone through some stylistic changes. He shared some of his feelings on the evolution of fashion that he has had over the years.
Ward: “I upped my game. When I first came into the league, I wasn’t really thinking about outfits and stuff. Now, it’s different. I’m trying to look good. I started to mix it up. I don’t go to the store and get seen as a dummy. I’m throwing my own flavor in there and paying attention, a little bit, to fashion.”
The 49ers’ Week 11 trip to Mexico City marked Ward’s first time in Mexico. As several other players described, the experience was unforgettable for him.
Ward: “It was crazy, I’m not going to lie. They were mostly 49ers fans, well I don’t know, I saw some Arizona fans. It was hard to tell because our two main colors are red, but they looked like mostly 49ers fans. It was crazy. It took me forever to get to the field and then back to the locker room at half time. That walk was a real workout. But other than that, I loved it. It was a lot of fans, and that stadium was huge. It was the first I played outside the country, and it was my first time in Mexico. I’m definitely coming back.”
Ward is an accomplished defensive back on the field, and off the field, he enjoys cooking in his spare time.
Ward: “Did they tell you I cook? Yes, I cook. I do a lot of different things. I like to make different pasta dishes. I’m a big pasta guy. I’m eating pasta (right now). Eat pasta every day.”
With the holidays fast approaching, gift giving is top of mind for many people. Ward shared his favorite gift from him that he has ever received from a Christmas gift exchange.
Ward: “The best one I ever had was from Antoine Bethea. He got me, it was the first time I had a Saint Laurent designer. I didn’t know what it was. He got me a shirt and some shoes. I didn’t even know what Saint Laurent was and, I’ve been shopping there ever since.”
Source: news.google.com