Cam Ward Has a Vision for His NFL Career: ‘Throwing a Lot of Touchdowns and Winning Super Bowls, Honestly’

The NFL Draft is patently absurd. Cam Ward, who has a good chance of being taken with the first overall pick in this year’s edition, knows this well. Apart from the obligations that most fans know about—nonstop meetings with front office executives from various teams, working out in athleisure underwear at the NFL combine—Ward says there’s a whole list of additional elements that make the process not only a bit odd, but a tad difficult as well. “Remembering all those names, that’s probably the most difficult part,” he laughed.

If the Tennessee Titans do indeed make Ward the first name off the board on Thursday, as many prognosticators expect, they’ll get a seasoned, well-traveled quarterback. Ward played a total of 57 collegiate games: two seasons at the University of the Incarnate Word, in his home state of Texas; two seasons at Washington State; and one final run in 2024 with Miami. Along the way, he honed an understated demeanor that many experts believe to be ideal for playing quarterback at the highest level.

That suave sophistication also led him to a partnership with Boss, who will be outfitting him for the draft. Ward, 22, says he was drawn to the brand because they’re not big on frills. “I like how casual it is,” he said. “It really fits my personality. Smooth. They’re not a real flashy brand when it comes to suits. That’s the type of person I am. I like to just put something on, keep it moving. The colorways that Boss has just fit my skin tone.”

Wherever he ends up, fans of Ward’s new team can expect to get a chill guy off the field with an uncanny knack for turning up the heat when it counts. It’s an ability that allowed him to set Miami’s single-season record for passing touchdowns in 2024, tossing 39 scores to just seven interceptions. But during his five years of college football, Ward also developed some takes on playing on the road, why the transfer portal rules, and the happening town of Pullman, Washington.

GQ: As someone who’s only ever seen it from the outside, what is the craziest part of the pre-draft process for you?

Cam Ward: I would say the craziest part is remembering all the coaches’ names. It’s easy to remember the head coaches, because that’s the ones they show on TV and all that. But the OCs [offensive coordinators] in the league, that changes every year. So, you’re constantly learning new people: the support staff, the quarterback coach, the people who help out in the building.

That does sound like it would be hard. Do you know how many teams you’ve met with at this point?

Let me tell you. The Saints, the Vikings, New Or—not New Orleans—Tennessee, Cleveland, New York [Giants], New York [Jets], Las Vegas.

Jeez.

Jacksonville, Dallas. I would say at least 12 teams. I met the majority of them at the combine and the rest of them after.