Denzel Ward is no longer just Cleveland's top cornerback — he's now a part-owner of the Guardians. The five-time Pro Bowler and Macedonia, Ohio native has purchased a minority stake in his hometown baseball team, joining the Guardians' ownership group as an active NFL player.
A Hometown Investment Years in the Making
Ward, who was drafted No. 4 overall by the Browns in 2018 and attended Nordonia High School and Ohio State University, joins Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce as a minority investor in the Guardians, according to The Athletic. In a statement reported by WKYC, Ward thanked lead minority owner David Blitzer and the Dolan family for the chance to invest in his hometown team and give back to Cleveland fans.
The 29-year-old cornerback's path to ownership was paved just weeks earlier. The Athletic's reporting notes Ward received a two-year, $62 million extension from the Browns, and WKYC's coverage of that deal put the figure at $62.2 million with $52.3 million guaranteed — making him the NFL's highest-paid cornerback at $31.1 million annually. The extension keeps him under contract in Cleveland through 2029.
Blitzer's Pattern of Recruiting Local Stars
The Athletic reports that Blitzer spearheaded the additions of both Kelce and Ward to the ownership group. Blitzer first acquired a minority stake of roughly 25 to 30 percent in the Guardians in June 2022 at a franchise valuation of about $1 billion, according to MLB Trade Rumors, which also reports that Blitzer secured an option to purchase controlling interest from the Dolan family after the 2027 season. Blitzer bought in after former minority owner John Sherman divested his shares to purchase the Kansas City Royals in 2019, per the same outlet.
Kelce, a Cleveland Heights native, joined the group when the Guardians announced his addition in May 2026. He has cited childhood memories of the franchise's 1990s playoff teams featuring Kenny Lofton and Jim Thome as motivation for buying in, according to Cleveland Magazine. The Athletic's reporting adds that Kelce sat in Blitzer's suite for the Guardians' home opener in April 2026 and later signed autographs for fans from the players' parking lot, though a planned June celebration of his involvement was canceled because of rain.
Blitzer's Sprawling Sports Portfolio
Blitzer, a senior executive at private equity firm Blackstone, became the first sports investor in history to hold equity stakes across all five major U.S. men's professional leagues — the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, Washington Commanders, Real Salt Lake and now the Guardians — according to his Wikipedia entry. The Athletic notes he also holds ownership in a NASCAR outfit, a forthcoming WNBA team, and soccer clubs throughout Europe through his venture with Josh Harris, Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment.
Ward's move fits a broader trend of active athletes buying into MLB franchises. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes bought into the Royals in July 2020, and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo took a stake in the Brewers in August 2021, according to TSN. Sherman, described by The Athletic as a Kansas City businessman who became Paul Dolan's potential successor in 2016 before divesting his Guardians shares in 2019, said doing this in one's hometown is a special deal and a rare opportunity. NBC Los Angeles reported that Myles Garrett purchased a minority stake in the Cleveland Cavaliers, providing a recent Cleveland precedent for an active athlete investing in a local professional team.
Valuation Rising, Payroll Still Lagging
The Dolan family, which purchased the Guardians for $323 million in November 1999 and remains the longest-tenured ownership group in franchise history, is now navigating a gradual transition. Paul Dolan is chairman and CEO, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Paul Dolan agreed with Blitzer on a pathway giving him controlling interest and plans to remain a minority owner himself, per The Athletic.
Forbes estimated the Guardians' franchise value at $1.66 billion in spring 2026, ranking the club 26th among MLB's 30 teams, The Athletic reports. Yet the Guardians carry one of MLB's lowest payrolls, according to Cot's Baseball Contracts. The valuation and payroll figures underscore the gap between franchise value and on-field spending. According to a Cuyahoga County agenda, a Progressive Field lease agreement listed a $2,557,500 lease amount.
A Civic-Minded Cornerback
Off the field, Ward has built a reputation for local advocacy through his Make Them Know Your Name Foundation, which he established in 2019 following his father's fatal cardiac arrest. The foundation helped push Ohio House Bill 47 through, a law requiring automated external defibrillators in all Ohio public schools and municipal sports venues, according to the Cleveland Browns. Ward has twice been nominated by the team for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, in 2021 and again in 2024.
On the field, Ward led the NFL in pass breakups with 19 in 2024 and has racked up 18 interceptions over 100 career games with the Browns, per The Athletic's reporting. Hoodline previously covered the financial side of his rise to hometown owner in Browns' record extension deal, which laid the groundwork for the capital behind his new stake in the Guardians.
