Cam Ward's mom and dad, Calvin and Patrice Ward, are the definition of supportive parents. Throughout his college career, Cam's parents never missed a game, traveling from Houston to see their son play football for three different schools: the University of the Incarnate Word, Washington State and the University of Miami. “They’ll be at every game,” Cam told PEOPLE in April 2025. “If my dad could, he’d try to travel with the team and be on the sidelines. They don’t miss a game. They’ll be at every one.” When it comes to the 2025 NFL Draft — taking place on April 24 and in which Cam is the projected No. 1 overall pick — the reigning ACC Player of the Year shared that Calvin and Patrice are thrilled. "My parents are more excited than me," he said. “I’ve been blessed and I’m just ready for them to be in this moment with me.” Here's everything to know about Cam Ward's parents, Calvin and Patrice Ward. Calvin works at a nuclear power plant and Patrice is a teacher Calvin has been a fuel buyer for a Texas nuclear power plant for decades. In a 2022 interview with 247Sports, Calvin admitted, "It's often hard talking to people about what I do ... It’s not classified but (some things are confidential). It’s definitely interesting." In the same interview, Patrice revealed she is a high school special education teacher at Columbia High in West Columbia, Texas. "I’ve been doing it for 29 years," she told the outlet. They both have athletic backgrounds Calvin is a former football player who was part of the Van Vleck High School team. Meanwhile, Patrice taught at Columbia High, where she coached the girls' volleyball, basketball and track teams, according to The Athletic. In 2022, Patrice told 247Sports that despite her long basketball coaching history, she decided to step away after 24 years for a good reason. "I let it go in 2016 because I wanted to watch Cameron," she explained. When their oldest daughter, Aaliyah, became head basketball coach, Patrice returned as assistant coach. “Me and my parents we have the same mentality when it comes to sports in general and that would be being aggressive and working hard,” Aaliyah told The Facts in 2020. “By working hard, you will get somewhere because hard work is always a plus." Calvin and Patrice share four kids, including Cam Cam is the youngest of Calvin and Patrice's four children. His older siblings include his brother Alton and sisters Aaliyah and Chantel. Cam isn't the only child who inherited his parents' sports skills. According to 247Sports, Chantel threw shot put and discus at Houston Baptist University, and per her LinkedIn, she's been the graduate assistant track and field coach at Houston Christian University since January 2023. Additionally, Aaliyah attended the University of Texas and took over as head coach of the Columbia Lady Neck basketball program in 2020. In December 2024, Chantel celebrated Cam being a Heisman Trophy finalist, posting a picture of the two of them on her Instagram. "Watching him grind day in and day out, overcome challenges, and shine on the biggest stage has been inspiring," she wrote in the caption. "This moment is everything he’s worked for. So proud of you, cam — now let’s make history!" Calvin taught Cam to throw a football Cam is a versatile athlete, having experience playing basketball, baseball, golf and discus. He started playing football at 8 years old, and Calvin was the first to teach Cam how to throw. But as Cam told PEOPLE, his dad doesn't throw much anymore, “He’ll say his hands start hurting." While speaking to 247Sports, Calvin recalled the early days in Cam's football journey. "Literally after practice, we would come out the back door and set up the nets and throw. We were throwing for fun, in a way," he shared. Cam's dad taught him how to throw a football, but basketball was actually what his family was known for. "I always wanted to be a professional athlete, no matter whether it was basketball, baseball, I just told myself I always wanted to do that," Cam said on the Miami Hurricanes' Storm Sessions podcast. "Just growing up with basketball because my older sister, my dad and mom played basketball." "It's really just a family sport," he added. Calvin and Patrice raised Cam in a competitive household Cam comes from a competitive family, as Patrice told 247Sports. Even games of Monopoly are treated very seriously in their household. “We play family games all the time. But (sometimes) we stop playing family games because we get mad at each other, somebody would try to cheat at Monopoly — everybody is so competitive they want to win so bad," she explained. "We’re just a competitive family and there’s always some type of game," she added. In August 2024, Patrice told The Miami Herald, "We set the standard for the kids. If you want to be better than somebody else, you better outwork them." Cam said his parents were "ready" for him to move out Since finishing his college career at the University of Miami, Cam — and his 150-pound Rottweiler Uno — moved back home with his parents in West Columbia. Leading up to the NFL Draft, Cam joked to PEOPLE that his mom was "ready" for him to go. “I’m ready too,” Ward continued. “I’ve got to get back to my own place. I’m excited to see where I’m going to be playing at so I can start looking for a house and start moving.” Although Cam is preparing to move out — and on to the next chapter of his football career — Calvin and Patrice will continue to cheer him on wherever he goes. “He’s had his own journey, and it’s been a movie,” Calvin told The Houston Chronicle. “But Patrice and I have had our own journey watching him, and I wouldn’t trade it with any parent.”