Jerome Ford isn't sleeping much lately.
Yet, Ford isn't fazed, as the lack of sleep comes from a bundle of joy. And he wouldn't have it any other way.
Ford missed the first few days of training camp at The Greenbrier as he welcomed his second child, Jerome Ford III. Now, back in the area for training camp, Ford is balancing preparing for the 2024 season and being a father of two.
"Sleeping in a different room," Ford said. "When I get home, I try my best to help. On my off days I try my best to help. But, then when it's time to go to sleep, I definitely sleep in a different room."
Ford has been through the stages of welcoming a newborn before. In 2022, on the morning of the Reese's Senior Bowl, Ford said he traveled from Mobile, Ala. to New Orleans to catch a 6.a.m. flight to Tampa in time for the birth of his daughter.
Now, as a father of two and with entering his third season with the Browns, Ford is surrounded by teammates who are also fathers, like G Joel Bitonio and G Wyatt Teller, and have passed on advice about fatherhood and raising kids. While he strives to be successful on the field, he's also focused on the example he is off the field to his two kids.
"Just making sure that I'm always there," Ford said. "Even with football, making sure I'm setting a good example. I'm playing for not only the front of my jersey, the Browns, I'm also playing for my last name too and my legacy."
Check out photos of the team during the eleventh day of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Linebacker Bookie Watson (40) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) and Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Defensive tackle Siaki Ika (62) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Fans during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Defensive end Marcus Haynes (52) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Quarterback Tyler Huntley (10) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Defensive tackle Siaki Ika (62) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Offensive guard Zack Johnson (63) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Cornerback Tony Brown (38) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Fans during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49)during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) and Running back John Kelly Jr. (41) OR Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) and Long snapper Charley Hughlett (47) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Linebacker Bookie Watson (40) and Linebacker Landon Honeycutt (35) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Coach Ashton Grant during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Defensive tackle Chris Williams (98) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Defensive tackle Chris Williams (98) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Fans during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Bill Willis Diversity Fellow Nemo Washington during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Fans during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Fans during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Coaching Consultant Mike Vrabel during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Bill Willis Diversity Fellow Nemo Washington during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Defensive end Marcus Haynes (52) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Defensive tackle Chris Williams (98) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49)during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) and Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Offensive guard Javion Cohen (67) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Wide receiver Matt Landers (89) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Defensive end Marcus Haynes (52) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Safety Vincent Gray (31) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Coach Ashton Grant during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Linebacker Landon Honeycutt (35) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Offensive guard Javion Cohen (67) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Fans during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Offensive guard Zack Johnson (63) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Wide receiver Matt Landers (89) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during Day 11 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 8, 2024.
Even with missing a few days to begin training camp, Ford feels caught up because of the way running backs coach Duce Staley trains the running backs in practice. Ford believes the running backs are clicking together and competing with one another in practice each day, helping them prepare for the 2024 season.
Ford is poised to have another strong year for the Browns, as they wait for the return of RB Nick Chubb.
In his second NFL season in 2023, Ford stepped into the featured back role when Chubb suffered his season-ending knee injury in Week 2. Ford found a high level of success in that role throughout the season, as he finished with 204 carries for 813 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He also recorded 44 receptions for 319 receiving yards and five touchdowns. In a career-setting year, Ford learned valuable lessons.
"I learned that preparation is key," Ford said of his experience in 2023. "And making sure that you prepare mentally and physically are keys to having success."
As he enters his third season in the league, Ford is working to elevate his run game and bring more energy to the unit.
"More juice and energy," Ford said. "Probably more celebrations. Looking to have more fun with our running back room."
Ford also wants to improve his pass protection, knowing his blocking scheme and running the ball. Staley said it's an area of focus they consistently discuss within the running back room as a whole, with the goal of protecting the quarterback as well as running out play actions.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski sees pass protection as an area of growth but believes that it's rare for a running back to enter the NFL as a strong pass protector.
"You just don't ask college players, running backs, to do what they're asked to do in the pros," Stefanski said. "So, I think everybody's on a learning curve when it comes to that. So, Jerome is exactly right in terms of that's part of his game that will continue to grow. I'm proud of him for last year, what he was able to achieve in that third down role, oftentimes as a pass protector. So, it's a natural continuation of those type of things."
The Browns will play their first preseason game on Aug. 10 against the Packers. And while a number of starters will only play about 10 snaps, there is an opportunity for others to take necessary reps. Stefanski said Ford has "a good chance of playing."
So as the 2024 season gets underway, Ford has a renewed perspective of just what the name on the back of his jersey means. When he takes the field on Saturday, he'll be focused on the game in front of him, and the two kids at home who share his last name.
"I feel like even back then I was still playing for my family," Ford said. "But even more so now knowing that somebody has to grow up wearing the same last name as me, and I have to set an example."
