Cam Ward’s journey to the NFL has been supported by his family every step of the way.
Despite playing college football at three different schools – Incarnate Word, Washington State and Miami – Ward’s Texas-based parents never missed a game. This support system will likely continue as he transitions to professional football.
Cam Ward’s parents
Calvin and Patrice Ward have been fixtures at their son’s football games throughout his career.
Calvin has worked as a fuel buyer for a Texas nuclear power plant for over 30 years. Patrice works as a special education teacher and girls’ basketball coach.
“I’ll get so into the game that I completely tune out the people around us,” Calvin told the Miami Herald last year. “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 if he’s having a great game or not having a great game, the team is still going to have a chance. … He’s gonna compete until the clock hits zero.”
Calvin would throw passes with Cam after high school practices to help him get extra repetitions. Meanwhile, Patrice made academic performance a requirement for Cam to continue playing football.
“I know the growth that he’s made. I’ve seen the sacrifice that he’s made. I saw the times when he was in high school, feeling like he wasn’t getting the chance he wanted,” Patrice said, via MiamiHurricanes.com. “There’s the disappointment a mother can feel about that, but seeing him not giving up, you know, that makes me feel so proud.”
Cam Ward’s siblings
Ward is the youngest of four siblings.
His older brother Alton attended Texas A&M for undergraduate studies and Georgetown for graduate school before moving to Miami.
Sister Aaliyah works as a science teacher and basketball coach at the same school as their mother.
Chantel, another sister, competed in shot put and discus at Houston Baptist University before attending San Jose State University for graduate studies.
Where is Cam Ward from?
Ward grew up in West Columbia, Texas, approximately 55 miles south of Houston.
He played high school football at Columbia High School before spending two years at Incarnate Word and later transferring to Washington State.
Cam Ward’s cousins
Quandre Diggs
Quandre Diggs, a veteran NFL safety who signed with the Titans late in the 2024 season, is Ward’s cousin.
“He used to come to a lot of my games, and be there to support (me),” Diggs told Titans.com. “We are a really close-knit family, so we used to see each other every weekend, or at church or things like that. We grew up in a church household.”
Diggs attended Ward’s Pro Day at Miami in March, demonstrating their close relationship.
always been bigger than football! https://t.co/xxdscnQnif
— Nino (@qdiggs6) March 25, 2025
Quentin Jammer
Former Chargers cornerback Quentin Jammer is also Ward’s cousin. Jammer, who played in the NFL from 2002-2013, hails from Angleton, Texas, sharing similar regional roots with Ward despite being over 20 years older.
Kyron Drones
Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones is Ward’s second cousin. The two quarterbacks faced each other in ACC competition last season and have trained together frequently.
“We definitely got closer as we started training together,” Drones said, via ESPN. “It gets real competitive. Real talking trash and picking each other’s brain on how to get better. We’re all trying to get to that end goal, which is the NFL.”
While Ward entered the NFL draft this year, Drones will play one more college season. Last year, Drones appeared in nine games for the Hokies, throwing for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns.
