Longtime Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward has joined the growing list of athletes who have invested in sports teams.
The 5x Pro Bowler and Cleveland native joined fellow Cleveland area native, Travis Kelce, as a minority owner of the team.
“Cleveland is my hometown. I’m so blessed to be able to show up for this city on the field and now as a part of the Guardians organization,” said Ward in a press release. “I couldn’t be more grateful to the Dolan family and David Blitzer for the opportunity to continue to pour into this community and give back to the best fans in the world.”
Ward played collegiately at Ohio State and was selected fourth overall by his hometown Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Now he joins another Cleveland team, this time in the boardroom through the ownership group led by Paul Dolan and David Blitzer, the latter who has ownership stakes in the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, Washington Commanders, Real Salt Lake (MLS) and Utah Royals (NWSL). He reportedly owns 25-30 of the Guardians, which is estimated to be worth $1.66 billion.
“Denzel Ward is a hometown here on the field and off it,” Dolan and Blitzer said in a joint statement. “His excellence, character and commitment to this community, including his work with the Make Them Know Your Name Foundation, make him a perfect fit for our organization. We are proud to welcome him as a partner in the Guardians future.”
