Yesterday morning, Houston Texans safety Jimmie Ward was arrested at his home in Magnolia, Texas on charges of assault family violence impeding breath/circulation, as deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office responded to a call from his fiancée who claimed Ward had assaulted, strangled, and threatened her. Ward was booked into the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Jail on this third-degree felony offense under Texas law, as reported by both Click2Houston and ABC7 Chicago.
Details on the arrest revealed that the incident occurred around 4:30 a.m., with the victim swiftly seeking legal protection, her actions leading to the implementation of an Emergency Protective Order. According to the deputies, this Protective Order is set to ensure her immediate safety and ongoing protection. Meanwhile, the Texans and the NFL are still in the early stages of addressing these allegations. A team spokesperson told Click2Houston, "We are aware of the report involving Jimmie Ward," and "We are gathering information and have no further comment at this time," while the NFL, through its vice president of communications Brian McCarthy, informed KPRC 2 of their awareness and ongoing contact with the club, but similarly declined to make any further statement at the moment
Thirty-three-year-old Ward, who signed with the Texans in 2023 for a term that extended through the immediately upcoming season, was not practicing with the team due to an offseason foot surgery—a recovery that Coach DeMeco Ryans earlier said would have him ready to return by training camp. He is known for his leadership, having been voted a Texans team captain for the past two seasons since his move from the San Francisco 49ers, and has been rehabilitating his injury at NRG Stadium.
The consequences of these charges on Ward's professional career are as of yet unclear; however, such cases are typically reviewed under the NFL's personal conduct policy, as mentioned by Click2Houston and ABC7 Chicago. Violence—especially of the domestic sort—is an affliction no status can shield against, and resources like the Montgomery County Women's Center at 936-441-7273 are available for those experiencing domestic abuse in need of support and assistance.
