COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Buckeyes will honor former offensive tackle and 2024 College Football Hall of Fame electee Chris Ward with an on-campus salute during Saturday’s game against Iowa.
The National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame announced its 2024 class in January. Ward, along with other inductees such as Randy Moss, Alex Smith and Tim Couch, will officially be inducted on Dec. 10.
“Dominating the line, Chris Ward cleared a path for the Ohio State offense, producing thousand-yard rushers in each of his four years while helping Archie Griffin become the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in history,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “We are thrilled to honor him at the Horseshoe as a member of the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class.”
Ward, a Cleveland native, was a four-year letterman for Coach Woody Hayes' teams from 1974 to 1977. Those teams won four straight Big Ten championships or co-championships and played in two Rose Bowls, an Orange Bowl and a Sugar Bowl.
Ward is the 28th former Buckeye to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. The most recent Ohio State player to receive the honor was safety Michael Doss in 2022.
The New York Jets drafted Ward with the fourth overall pick in the 1978 NFL Draft. He played 100 NFL games in seven seasons.
After Ward retired from football, he became involved in the ministry. He has a degree in bible studies from the Ministry Training Institute and both a master's degree and his Ph.D in counseling and theology from the institute. He later went on to establish Ward International, a secular after school program to help at-risk youth.
Below is a list of Ohio State players in the College Football Hall of Fame:
- 2024 Chris Ward, OT (1974-77)
- 2022 Michael Doss, SAF (1999-02)
- 2020 Keith Byars, RB (1982-85)
- 2016 Tom Cousineau, LB (1975-78)
- 2014 Orlando Pace, LT (1994-96)
- 2012 Eddie George, RB (1992-95)
- 2009 Chris Spielman, LB (1984-87)
- 2007 Rex Kern, QB (1968-70)
- 2005 Jim Houston, E (1957-58)
- 2004 Jack Tatum, DB (1968-70)
- 2001 John Hicks, OT (1970, 72-73)
- 1998 Randy Gradishar, LB (1971-73)
- 1996 Bob Ferguson, FB (1959-61)
- 1991 Jim Stillwagon, DT (1968-70)
- 1989 Aurealius Thomas, G (1955-57)
- 1986 Archie Griffin, RB (1972-75)
- 1984 Warren Amling, G/T (1944-46)
- 1979 Howard “Hopalong” Cassady, RB (1952-55)
- 1978 Gomer Jones, C (1934-35)
- 1977 Jim Daniel, T (1939-41)
- 1976 Vic Janowicz, HB (1949-51)
- 1975 Gust Zarnas, G (1935-37)
- 1974 Jim Parker, G (1954-56)
- 1973 Gaylord Stinchcomb, HB (1917-20)
- 1971 Bill Willis, T (1942-44)
- 1969 Les Horvath, QB (1940-42, 44)
- 1954 Wes Fesler, E 1928-30)
- 1951 Chic Harley, HB (1916-17, 19)
