Denzel Ward understands how special of a story he's created in Ohio.
From Macedonia, to Columbus, to Cleveland, Ward has been a consummate pro on and off the field no matter where he's been. His football home has always been close to home, and he's never failed to meet expectations, deliver elite production and prove himself in becoming one of the most talented cornerbacks in the sport.
And Ward, whose path included star careers at Nordonia High School and Ohio State before he was drafted by the Browns fourth overall in 2018, hasn't taken any of it for granted. That was evident Wednesday as he spoke to reporters about the five-year extension he signed with the Browns to continue his Pro Bowl career in Cleveland and play in the only state he's ever been able to call home.
"The fact that they believe in me, a kid that grew up in Ohio and went on to play for the hometown team … I'm blessed," Ward said. "I just want to continue to give back and show them that I'm that guy."
Four-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowl CB Denzel Ward signed a contract extension Tuesday that will keep him in Cleveland through 2027.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) signs a contract extension at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on April 20, 2022.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a NFL football game between the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns on November 15, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 10-7.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns on November 21, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 13-10.
1946 Jersey Reveal Photoshoot
Jarvis Landry Charity Softball Game on June 15, 2019th
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football on January 3, 2022 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 14-26.
Browns 2018 first round draft picks arrive at the Berea Facility for the first time on April 27, 2018.
New York Jets at Cleveland Browns at First Energy Stadium on September 20, 2018 on Thursday Night Football
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns on December 12, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 24-22.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during an NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on September 17, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 35-30.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns on December 12, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 24-22.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 9th, 2018
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football on January 3, 2022 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 14-26.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers on December 25, 2021 at Lambeau Field. The Browns lost 22-24.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals on November 7, 2021 at Paul Brown Stadium. The Browns won 41-16.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns on December 20, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 14-16.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) and the defense during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football on November 28, 2021 at M&T Bank Stadium. The Browns lost 10-16.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns on November 21, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 13-10.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns on December 12, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 24-22.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals on November 7, 2021 at Paul Brown Stadium. The Browns won 41-16.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings on October 3, 2021 at US Bank Stadium. The Browns won 14-7.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns on October 17, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 14 - 37.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns on September 26, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 26-6.
Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on 11/4/18
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets on December 27, 2020 at MetLife Stadium. The Browns lost 23-16.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns on November 1, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 16-6.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs on September 12, 2021 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Browns lost 29-33.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs on September 12, 2021 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Browns lost 29-33.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a preseason NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars on August 14, 2021 at TIAA Bank Field. The Browns won 23-13.
1946 Jersey Reveal Photoshoot
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns on November 22, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 22-17.
2021 Cleveland Browns Media Day
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) after a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys on October 4, 2020 at AT&T Stadium. The Browns won 49 - 38.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns game on November 14, 2019 at First Energy Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals game on December 29, 2019 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Media Days 2019
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during an NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens on September 13, 2020 at M&T Bank Stadium. The Browns lost 6–38.
2020 Media Day
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots game on October 27, 2019 at Gillette Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals on November 25, 2018 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals game on December 29, 2019 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Browns 2018 first round draft picks arrive at the Berea Facility for the first time on April 27, 2018.
Cleveland Browns at Arizona Cardinals game on December 15, 2019 at State Farm Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers game on December 1, 2019 at Heinz Field.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during the eighteenth day of camp on August 20, 2019.
Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos game on November 4, 2019 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice on October 15, 2019
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns game on November 14, 2019 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2019 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during the third day of training camp on July 27, 2019.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) on July 24, 2019.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during the second practice of OTAs on May 15, 2019
Cleveland Browns at Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 30, 2018
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 9th, 2018
Ward has given back to Cleveland in many ways since he packed his bags from Columbus and drove back up I-71 to continue his NFL career.
On the field, he's become the shutdown corner the Browns expected when they became only the third team in the previous decade to draft a cornerback with a top five pick. He has two or more interceptions and double-digit pass breakups in each of his first four seasons, and he's arguably coming off his best season yet, a year where he led the Browns with three interceptions and earned his second career Pro Bowl nomination.
The first was after his rookie season, when it was evident that the Browns could have a player capable of carving out a long, storied career in Cleveland.
Ward has done just that. His production on the field has made him a fan favorite, and his constant efforts in giving back to the community through his "Make Them Know Your Name" Foundation and other various efforts are even more evidence of the love Ward has for his hometown.
"He has earned (the extension) with the way he has played, the way he has conducted himself off the field and what he has done in our community," coach Kevin Stefanski said. "He speaks to the type of culture that the Haslam family has in this community. Denzel just embodies that."
Ward joins a long list of other Browns stars who have now solidified a long-term future in Cleveland.
Myles Garrett is under contract through 2026. Nick Chubb is signed through 2024. Deshaun Watson was extended through 2026 when the Browns completed his trade. Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller are both locked in through 2025. Several other big players — John Johnson III, Kareem Hunt, Greg Newsome II, David Njoku, Troy Hill, Grant Delpit, to name a few — will be in Cleveland for 2022 or longer.
It's been decades since the window for the Browns to win a Super Bowl has felt this big, and Ward knows the work isn't over.
"It's all our goal to get to the Super Bowl," he said. "For me, I'm a person that likes to take it a game at a time, a day at a time. I don't like to look too far ahead."
He certainly doesn't have to do that now.
Ward knows where he'll be for the next six years. It's the same place he's always been — where he learned how to play the game, become a top recruit, then a top prospect, then a Pro Bowler, then a player that will never soon be forgotten as one of the best for his hometown team.
Cleveland has been a special place for Ward, and he wouldn't want his story to grow anywhere else.
