SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The young daughter of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward has died after a battle with heart problems.

Ward posted on Instagram that his daughter, Amani Joy, passed away Monday morning. She would be 2 years old in November.

“We are heartbroken that our beautiful girl, Amani Joy, passed away Monday morning,” Ward wrote on Instagram on Tuesday. “She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her cheerful spirit made us smile from ear to ear. She taught us patience, confidence and a positive outlook on life. She showed us true strength and courage. She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile. Having the privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes changed us for the better. She will forever be Dad’s best friend and Mom’s little one being a girl We will miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”

During a December appearance on former teammate Arik Armstead’s podcast, Ward explained that Amani Joy was born with Down syndrome and two holes in her heart, one of which required surgery.

The Niners, who are parting ways this week, said in a statement Tuesday that the organization is “devastated” by her death.

“Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to everyone around her with her sweet attitude and infectious laugh,” the team said in a statement. “We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique as we send them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”

During his breakthrough 2023 season, in which he earned his first Pro Bowl nod and was a second-team All-Pro, Ward repeatedly pointed to the birth of his daughter in 2022 as his inspiration.