ScoutIndex

NYG NYG

Jihad Ward

LB

A 2nd-round pick (44th overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Illinois; Globe Institute, Jihad Ward has built an NFL career since. Now with NYG, he's in his 11th NFL season. His 56.9 ScoutIndex Rating last season ranked in the 70th percentile among DEFs — solidly above average.

Size

6'5", 285#

College

Illinois; Globe Institute

Draft

Rd 2, 44th overall (2016)

Seasons

2016–2026

2025 ScoutIndex Rating · DEF

Methodology
56.9

70th percentile among DEFs

17 games

Splash plays×0.15-0.44
Pass rush×0.3+0.74
Ball skills×0.25-0.02
Run defense×0.2-0.02
Availability×0.1+1.29

Career (regular season)

SeasonTmSIGPass ydsPass TDRush ydsRush TDRecRec ydsRec TD
2026NYG331
2025TEN56.917
2024MIN41.514
2023NYG60.214
2022NYG64.415
2021JAX48.815
2020BAL639
2019IND41.89
2018IND72.44
2017LV56.42
2016LV37.515

Career profile

Across 11 NFL seasons on file, Jihad Ward has played in 115 regular-season games, playing for 8 teams: LV (2016–2017), IND (2018–2019), BAL (2020), JAX (2021), NYG (2022–2023), MIN (2024), TEN (2025), NYG (2026).

By the ScoutIndex Rating, his best qualified season was 2022: a 64.4, in the 83rd percentile among DEFs that year.

2025 splits

regular season

2025 game log

WkOppLineScore
Week 1DEN—39.7
Week 2LAR—40.1
Week 3IND—40.2
Week 4HOU—41
Week 5ARI—49.7
Week 6LV—50.8
Week 7NE—71.4
Week 8IND—40.8
Week 9LAC—93.7
Week 11HOU—40.1
Week 12SEA—48.6
Week 13JAX—73.6
Week 14CLE—40.3
Week 15SF—40.7
Week 16KC—57.7
Week 17NO—39.6
Week 18JAX—40.8

Jihad Ward — common questions

What position does Jihad Ward play?
Jihad Ward is listed as an LB.
Which teams has Jihad Ward played for?
In the seasons on file (1999 onward), Jihad Ward has played for LV (2016–2017), IND (2018–2019), BAL (2020), JAX (2021), NYG (2022–2023), MIN (2024), TEN (2025), NYG (2026).
Where did Jihad Ward go to college?
Jihad Ward played college football at Illinois; Globe Institute.
When was Jihad Ward drafted?
Jihad Ward was selected in round 2, 44th overall, of the 2016 NFL Draft.
How many touchdowns has Jihad Ward scored?
Jihad Ward has no rushing, receiving or passing touchdowns in the regular-season games on file.
What is Jihad Ward's ScoutIndex Rating?
Jihad Ward rated 33.0 for 2026, the 6th percentile among DEFs (provisional or limited sample). Ratings run 0–99; about 60 is a league-average qualified starter.

Related players

Top teammates, last season on file

Drafted in round 2, 2016