Ward attended and played college football at Oregon State from 2011 to 2014.[2] In the 2011 season, he had 211 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, and 14 receptions for 76 receiving yards.[3] In the 2012 season, he had 415 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, and 10 receptions for 79 receiving yards.[4] In the 2013 season, he had 521 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 34 receptions, 280 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns.[5] In the 2014 season, he had 696 rushing yards, ten rushing touchdowns, and 29 receptions for 229 receiving yards.[6]
Ward signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2015.[8] As a rookie, he played in 13 games while recording 95 yards on 29 carries with one rushing touchdown along with nine receptions for 73 yards.[9]
On September 22, 2016, he was released by the Falcons and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[10] On October 25, 2016, he was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster.[11]
The Falcons would have a successful season in 2016, which culminated in an appearance in Super Bowl LI.[12] He finished the regular season with 31 carries for 151 rushing yards. Ward would be named an inactive for the Super Bowl, where the Falcons eventually lost to the New England Patriots by a score of 34–28 in overtime.[13][14][15]
In 2017, Ward was the third running back on the team behind Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, rushing for 129 yards in 14 games played.[16]
