<p>Former NHL goaltender Cam Ward had a long and successful career, playing 14 seasons and winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as a rookie in 2006 as the Carolina Hurricanes won their first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history. </p>



<p>Cam Ward was also one of college football’s best players in 2024, being named the ACC Player of the Year and finishing fourth in Heisman Trophy voting. On Thursday night, he was taken by the NFL’s Tennessee Titans as the first-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. </p>



<p>No, they’re not the same person. But the former had a memorable reaction when he saw the latter get drafted. </p>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cam Ward was absolutely stunned sitting on his couch when the <a href="https://twitter.com/Titans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Titans</a> drafted him first overall <a href="https://twitter.com/36wine?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@36wine</a> <a href="https://t.co/GBBpHp6A2E">pic.twitter.com/GBBpHp6A2E</a></p>
<p>— Missin Curfew (@MissinCurfew) <a href="https://twitter.com/MissinCurfew/status/1915565297060417829?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="133"></div></blockquote>
<p> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>



<p>“Did I just get picked?” the older Ward said to the camera as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the Titans selecting the younger Ward No. 1 overall. </p>



<p>Others on social media joined in on the joke, with the NHL posting about the two having the same name. </p>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">We’re seeing Cam Ward’s name circulating online, so now is a good time to tell you about the <a href="https://twitter.com/Canes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Canes</a> legend! 🗣️ <a href="https://t.co/PxinQSoXPo">pic.twitter.com/PxinQSoXPo</a></p>
<p>— NHL (@NHL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1915561890542920163?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>



<p>“We’re seeing Cam Ward’s name circulating online, so now is a good time to tell you about the @Canes legend!</p>



<p>The Hurricanes shared a post of their own, calling it a “Big night for Cam Ward.” </p>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Big night for Cam Ward <a href="https://t.co/PWppx9pba0">pic.twitter.com/PWppx9pba0</a></p>
<p>— x – Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canes/status/1915568684212642109?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="133"></div></blockquote>
<p> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>



<p>During his 14-year NHL career, Ward posted a 334-256-88 record with a .908 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.74 goals against average (GAA). Arguably his best season came in 2010-11, where he posted a 37-26-10 record with a .923 SV% and 2.56 GAA. </p>



<p>Taken No. 25 overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Ward spent four seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Red Deer Rebels. He twice won the Del Wilson Trophy as the league’s best goaltender, and in 2004 won the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as the league’s player of the year. </p>
