Jay Ward

S

#24

Experience: 4 years

Height: 6-1

Weight: 190 lbs

College: LSU

2025 SEASON

Solo
13
SCK
0
FF
0
INT
--

Advertising

Recent Games

WK	OPP	RESULT	TKL	AST	COMBINED	SOLO	SCK	SFTY	PDEF	FF	OPP FR
1	@Bears	W 27 - 24	2	1	3	2	0	0	0	0	1
2	Falcons	L 6 - 22	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
3	Bengals	W 48 - 10
4	@Steelers	L 21 - 24
5	@Browns	W 21 - 17
7	Eagles	L 22 - 28
8	@Chargers	L 10 - 37	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
9	@Lions	W 27 - 24	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
10	Ravens	L 19 - 27	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
11	Bears	L 17 - 19	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
12	@Packers	L 6 - 23
13	@Seahawks	L 0 - 26
14	Commanders	W 31 - 0	2	0	2	2	0	0	0	0
15	@Cowboys	W 34 - 26
16	@Giants	W 16 - 13	2	4	6	2	0	0	0	0
17	Lions	W 23 - 10	3	2	5	3	0	0	0	0
18	Packers	W 16 - 3	2	4	6	2	0	0	0	0

Career Stats

Defense Career

SEASON	TEAM	G	GS	TKL	AST	COMBINED	SOLO	PDEF	INT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TDS	OPP FR
2023	Minnesota Vikings	17	0	5	3	8	5	0						1
2024	Minnesota Vikings	16	0	4	2	6	2	1
2025	Minnesota Vikings	17	5	13	14	27	13	0						1
TOTAL		50	5	22	19	41	20	1	0	0	0	0	0	2

Biography

2024 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Saw action in 16 games for the Vikings during the 2024 season, recording six total tackles, one QB hit and a pass defensed.
Made his postseason debut during the Wild Card Round in Arizona against the L.A. Rams (1/13).
Recorded his first career pass defensed in Week 1 5 vs. Chicago (12/16) on Monday Night Football.
Inactive in Week 13 vs. Arizona (12/1) due to injury.
Made his season debut in Week 1 at the New York Giants (9/8).

2024 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Saw action in 16 games for the Vikings during the 2024 season, recording six total tackles, one QB hit and a pass defensed.
Made his postseason debut during the Wild Card Round in Arizona against the L.A. Rams (1/13).
Recorded his first career pass defensed in Week 1 5 vs. Chicago (12/16) on Monday Night Football.
Inactive in Week 13 vs. Arizona (12/1) due to injury.
Made his season debut in Week 1 at the New York Giants (9/8).

2023 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Played in all 17 games for the Vikings as a rookie in 2023, contributing on both defense and special teams.
Tallied a pair of tackles and recovered a fumble on defense in addition to six special teams tackles in 2023.
Saw action on both defense and special teams in Week 18 at Detroit (1/7), logging one tackle.
Appeared in a career-high 17 defensive snaps vs. Green Bay (12/31).
Recorded a tackle on defense for the first time in his career against Detroit in Week 16 (12/24).
Recovered a fumble at Las Vegas in Week 14 (12/10), the first of his career.
Logged four tackles on special teams in Week 8 at Green Bay (10/29).
Made his NFL debut against in Week 1 against Tampa Bay (9/10).

COLLEGE - LSU

Versatile defensive back who played safety, cornerback and nickel back during his LSU career.
Made 46 career appearances with 23 starts and registered 164 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and six interceptions.
Developed into a leader in the secondary for the Tigers and served as an extra "coach" on the field.
Had breakout season in 2021, ranking among team leaders in tackles with 71, and followed that with 60 tackles as a senior in 2022.
Also thrived on special teams – blocked a fourth-quarter field goal against Arkansas that helped preserve a LSU win in 2020. Also had a blocked field goal against Auburn in 2021.

HONORS

Senior Bowl Participant (2023)
SEC Defensive Player of the Week vs. Mississippi State (2022)
SEC Academic Honor Roll (2020)

HIGH SCHOOL - COLQUITT COUNTY (GA.)

Led his team to a 14-1 record and an appearance in the Georgia 7A State Championship as a senior.
Capped his senior season with 50 tackles and six interceptions.
As a junior, recorded 46 tackles, 12 pass breakups and four interceptions.
Amassed 11-career interceptions.

OFF THE FIELD

Older brother Johnny Ward played football at South Florida.
Majored in interdisciplinary studies.

video

Film Room: Highlighting Best Plays By Vikings Young Defensive Talent During 2025 Season

Former Vikings player and coach Pete Bercich breaks down film of DL Levi Drake Rodriguez, S Theo Jackson, S Jay Ward, and DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins from the 2025 NFL season.

video

Minnesota Vikings Team Press Conferences | Week 1 vs. Chicago Bears | Wednesday, September 10

Vikings players Jonathan Allen, Eric Wilson, Isaiah Rodgers, Dallas Turner, and Jay Ward addressed the media from the TCO Performance Center on Wednesday.

video

Kobe King and Jay Ward Team Up To Force Patriots' 4th Down

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Kobe King and safety Jay Ward break up a pass by New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.

video

Minnesota Vikings Team Press Conferences: Eric Wilson, Jay Ward & Dwight McGlothern | July 30

Vikings LB Eric Wilson, S Jay Ward, and CB Dwight McGlothern addressed the media during 2025 Training Camp.

video

Jay Ward Snares Tipped Pass For Interception

Minnesota Vikings defensive back Jay Ward turns a tipped ball off of the hands of Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Joseph Ngata into an end zone interception.

video

Chopping It Up: "I Feed Into Pressure"

Vikings Entertainment Network's Gabe Henderson talks with CB Mekhi Blackmon, S Jay Ward and LB Ivan Pace Jr. in season 3, episode 1 of Chopping It Up.

video

Rookie S Jay Ward Lays The Boom, Causing A Sack and Fumble

Minnesota Vikings rookie safety Jay Ward lays the BOOM on sack fumble vs. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune to set up Vikings in prime scoring position following fumble recovery by linebacker Troy Reeder.

video

Film Room: How Jay Ward's Diverse Skillset Will Benefit The Vikings Defense

Former Vikings player and coach Pete Bercich heads back into the film room to look at the college tape of S Jay Ward, the team's 2023 fourth round pick out of LSU.

video

Ward: You Dream of This Moment Since You Were A Child

S Jay Ward addressed the media from the TCO Performance Center on Friday.

video

Jay Ward on What Makes Him A 'Relentless Baller,' His Ability To Play Both Safety and Corner, Plus More

vikings.com's Gabe Henderson chatted with S Jay Ward, a fourth round pick by the Vikings out of LSU in the 2023 NFL Draft.

video

S Jay Ward Addresses The Media

Vikings S Jay Ward, a 5th round pick out of LSU, addressed the media virtually on Saturday.

video

Full College Highlights of S Jay Ward

Watch college highlights of new Vikings S Jay Ward.

video

Vikings Select S Jay Ward In Round 4 of 2023 NFL Draft

The Minnesota Vikings select LSU Tigers S Jay Ward in Round 4 of the 2023 NFL Draft with the No. 134 overall pick (via a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs).

video

VP of Football Operations Demitrius Washington on The Selection of LSU's Jay Ward

Demitrius Washington, Vikings VP of Football Operations, addressed the media on draft weekend to discuss the selection of LSU's Jay Ward.

news

2025 Vikings Position Recap: Vintage Harrison Smith at Safety; Newcomers at Corner

news

Vikings Draft LSU Safety Jay Ward in 4th Round

Related Galleries

gallery

Best of 2024 Safety Photos

View the best photos of Vikings safeties Harrison Smith, Camryn Bynum, Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, Theo Jackson, and Bobby McCain during the 2024 season.

gallery

Quarterbacks & Safeties Sign Autographs at Training Camp

View photos of quarterbacks and safeties signing autographs at the TCO Performance Center during 2024 Training Camp.

gallery

2023 in Photos: Jay Ward

View photos of Vikings S Jay Ward from the 2023 season.

gallery

Best of 2023 Safety Photos

View the best photos of Vikings safeties Harrison Smith, Camryn Bynum, Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, Theo Jackson, and Lewis Cine during the 2023 season.

gallery

Table Talk: Louisiana Traditions

View photos of Vikings players and staff members filming Table Talk where they discussed their strong connections to Louisiana. Watch full episode on vikings.com.

gallery

Vikings Host "All-Abilities" Clinic

View photos of Vikings hosting the "All-Abilities" Clinic for Shriner's Children's Hospital Patients on Sept. 18.

gallery

Vikings 2023 Draft Class Gifted Custom ATV Helmets by Polaris

The Vikings rookies opened a surprise from Polaris to reveal custom ATV helmets that were designed by Mache to welcome them to their new home in Minnesota.