Hines Ward

Hines Edward Ward Jr. was born on March 8, 1976, in Seoul, South Korea. He moved to the Atlanta area at one year old. Ward played quarterback at Forest Park High School, earning two-time Clayton County Offensive Player of the Year honors. He later attended the University of Georgia, where he was a standout wide receiver, playing both tailback and a brief stint at quarterback. Ward concluded his college career with 149 receptions for 1,965 yards and 3,870 all-purpose yards, second only to Herschel Walker in Bulldogs history. Despite losing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee during childhood due to a bicycle accident, his athletic prowess remained evident. Ward’s career progression saw him become a third-round draft pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1998 NFL Draft.

Hines Ward spent his entire 14-year NFL career (1998-2011) with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he became the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions. He earned four Pro Bowl selections (2001-2004) and three Second-Team All-Pro honors (2002-2004). A pivotal moment in his career was being named MVP of Super Bowl XL in 2006, where he helped lead the Steelers to victory. Ward was also a two-time Super Bowl champion, winning Super Bowl XL and XLIII. He achieved significant milestones, including surpassing 1,000 career receptions and 12,000 receiving yards, solidifying his status as one of the league’s elite wide receivers. His impactful style of play, characterized by his strong blocking, led to the creation of the “Hines Ward Rule” in the NFL, which addressed blindside blocks.

Following his retirement from professional football in 2012, Ward transitioned into various roles, beginning his coaching career as an offensive intern for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017. He later served as an offensive assistant for the New York Jets (2019-2020), wide receivers coach for Florida Atlantic (2021), and head coach for the San Antonio Brahmas (2023). In 2024, he joined Arizona State as a wide receivers coach. Beyond football, Ward has made significant contributions to media and philanthropy, appearing on “Dancing with the Stars” (winning Season 12 in 2011), as a studio analyst for “Football Night in America,” and with CNN/HLN. He is also a vocal advocate for the social acceptance of mixed-race youth in South Korea, establishing the Hines Ward Helping Hands Foundation.