EAGAN, Minn. — Two things are top of mind for Jihad Ward when he visits Philadelphia: cheesesteaks and sacks.

It's a favorite combination for the Vikings outside linebacker – and makes perfect sense considering, well, everything from his roots to his personality to his affection for the city and playing in the NFL.

Ward was raised in a "rough environment" in North Philly. He attended Edward W. Bok Technical High School, 10 minutes up the street from Lincoln Financial Field (the school closed in 2013 because of budget cuts). His family is full of Eagles fans. So are the friends he rode dirt bikes with back in the day.

Naturally, Philadelphia's loyal-to-a-fault sports fandom greets Ward with open arms – and a warning.

Ward said Wednesday, shaking his head: "Every time I go against the Eagles, my friends and family members say, 'Yeah, we're going to support you, but don't hurt [Jalen] Hurts, don't hurt [Carson] Wentz or don't hit Nick Foles. We need them! Don't hurt our guys or we're going to have to [mess] you up.'"

It's all love between the city and Ward, who's entering Year 9 in the league and his first on the Vikings.

"I'm pretty sure everybody is aware of that Philly atmosphere," he said with a smile, leaning on the arm of a sofa inside the halls at TCO Performance Center. "They're going to support me, but at the end of the day, they want me to lose, and that's fine because they know what I'm going to bring to the table."

Ward has a history of strutting his stuff on Eagles turf. The 30-year-old collected career sack No. 1 of 18 in his first professional game at Philadelphia, dropping Foles for a loss of 9 yards on Christmas night 2017.

The sack sticks in Ward's mind "to this day." He recalls being overcome by emotion.

"I was so proud of myself," Ward beamed. "Not even just the sack, man. As soon as I entered that field, it was the best feeling in the world, coming home, because I knew how many good times I had in the city; how many times I had to fight in the city. I know that everybody in the city of Philadelphia is very, very proud of me – coming from that environment. … There really ain't much to explain on that. When you come from the bottom, man, it's just the best feeling in the world, especially doing it in [front of family]."

In four defensive appearances in his home city, Ward is responsible for 2.5 sacks and seven tackles.

He's already got a couple properties in the area and may contemplate building a home for the whole family, a place for everyone to be together, once he's done playing ball – but don't count on that soon.

Ward is returning to Philly for the final Vikings preseason contest, scheduled for noon (CT) Saturday. He's looking forward to sliding over and smashing a corner-store cheesesteak. Maybe, he'll pair it with a sack (as one of the veterans on the Vikings defense, Ward logged only 23 and 13 snaps in the first two exhibitions).

"It's just a good feeling coming back home," Ward said. "It makes me feel like a kid, again."

Flowing with Flo'

Brian Flores' interest coupled with an apparent valuing of versatility motivated Ward to sign with Minnesota, the seventh club he's been part of (Raiders, Cowboys, Colts, Ravens, Jaguars and Giants).

"[He's the] life of the party," declared the Vikings defensive coordinator on Tuesday, supporting comments about Ward that he made earlier in the afternoon at a media session. "On the field, [he's] disruptive. He's got versatility – he's played inside, he's played outside, he's played really everywhere on the defensive line. He tells me to let him drop [into coverage] every once in a while. … There's a lot to like about him."

Ward met Flores for the first time this year. Ward said a shared honesty has helped initiate a practical relationship between player and coach. Ward can focus on his craft on the field – and Flores can design methods for Ward, and every Vikings defender, to do what they must: solve problems.

"That's why me and Flo' can relate [so well]," noted Ward, praising Flores' willingness to adapt his scheme specific to what Vikings players are doing well, not forcing a concept or call simply because it happened to be effective last year. "What makes sense? What makes sense stopping the run or getting to the quarterback? … You can't be like 'This is how I roll.' You're dealing with [many different] players."

"If it doesn't make sense, we'll throw it in the trash," added Ward, giving an example of Flo's honesty.

Ward doesn't care what position he plays. He's versed at lining up with his hand in the dirt outside of the tackle. He can slide inside over the tackle – even farther inside, as well. He's logged off-ball snaps in the box and on the edge as a pass-rusher. He doesn't think he's more effective at a singular spot on the field.

"My goal is to be dominant at whatever position they're willing to give me," Ward asserted. "I'm assuming that's why Flo' likes me so much, because you can put me anywhere. … I'm a football junkie."

Teammate Jonathan Greenard, also new to the Vikings after four years in Houston, values Ward's input.

"I kind of steal his ideas at times," Greenard said after practice Monday. "Whenever he's thinking about a game plan for somebody, I see how I can incorporate it. … He's a guy who knows a lot of interior pass-rush stuff, but it translates to the outside when I'm trying to figure out how it will help my moves."

It's a two-way street.

"He'll say something, and I'll chime in, and we'll just bounce ideas off each other, which is great because he's a guy who's been around a lot of teams and played a lot of ball," Greenard said emphatically. "Having [him] next to me definitely makes sure that I'm not tripping whenever I see certain things."

"All spots – 0 all the way out to the 9 – he can play it all," added Greenard. "He's just an athletic body and a really smart football player, as well. He doesn't get a lot of credit for it, but he helps a lot of people out. … I also know that whenever I need some juice, I can look to Haddy, for sure, to bring that."

Locker room leader

Ward is more vocal now than 2016, when he was a 22-year-old rookie on the Raiders.

That season, Ward had players such as Bruce Irvin and Khalil Mack in his corner. He soaked up their knowledge – on the field, obviously, but also off it. Ward has paid attention to veterans at all his stops.

Learning is leading. Ward's progress is proof.

"We're all just telling our story because we came from different backgrounds," Ward shared about the Vikings outside linebacker room. "That's the best part about this stuff – learning from everybody."

Minnesota's new-fangled group of OLBs is rounded out by four rookies – Gabriel Murphy, Owen Porter, Bo Richter and Dallas Turner – veteran Andrew Van Ginkel and returners Andre Carter II and Pat Jones II.

Ward remembers how quiet he was his debut season. Flores' impression represents a complete 180.

"It's hard to think of this group without him – he's made that type of impact," Flores said. "And that's really more off the field, as a locker-room presence, as a friend, somebody who brings people together."

The way he communicates is the biggest change for Ward from Year 1 to Year 9.

"Sometimes I just say what I feel," said Ward, explaining that by sharing aloud an experience from yesterday or last week, quieter teammates can relate to the group more easily. "I'll go to my teammates and say 'Yo, man! I'm having a bad day' or 'Yo! I'm having a great day.' … I get cautious when I see quiet players. … We don't know what people go through outside of this game, so let's get to know them."

Ward's outgoingness is beloved.

Greenard, viewed as a leader on the defense, isn't soft-spoken or inexperienced by NFL standards, but he is green as far as playing for Minnesota, and is thankful for his "newbie" connection with Ward.

"Having that big brother, that OG, helps a lot," Greenard said glowingly. "People kind of forget that we're playing a child's game, and I think that he never loses sight of that. No matter what, whether [he's experiencing] a high or a low … he's always brought that same energy and friendship."

There's a good reason for Ward's level-headedness.

"It's bigger than [playing football]," he said. "That's how I look at it."

Breaking through

Ward is on the up and up. He believes "the sky's the limit now."

In 2023, Ward played 661 defensive snaps, surpassing his previous career high of 657 (2022). Last season, Ward posted a personal-best five sacks. The year before, he had a highwater mark of 13 quarterback hits.

His breakthrough on the Giants was a byproduct of the right knowledge, right circumstances.

Ward is listening to his body. He mentions his last significant injury occurred about five years ago. And he's much better, he said, at navigating the good times and rough times that take place throughout training camp.

"I've seen a lot of cats in the dark and they just shut down," recalled Ward, citing bad luck with health and an early-career trade to Dallas as his biggest hurdles. "I feel like the darkness is coming to the light."

Perhaps the clearest instance of Ward's emergence tracks to the last four minutes of the 2023 season.

In New York's finale against, of all teams, Philadelphia, the 6-foot-5, 285-pound Ward aligned between the Eagles left guard and left tackle. Ward pressured the outside shoulder of the guard on the snap, beautifully setting up an inside spin to backup quarterback Marcus Mariota. As Mariota climbed the pocket, trying to evade Ward, the Philly native swung his right arm at the ball, knocking it loose.

The strip sack triggered a $250,000 incentive in Ward's contract.

"[Giants GM] Joe [Schoen] was like, 'Hey, I've got to give you some more money,' and I said, 'Yup, I'm going to need that for my wedding,' " Ward laughed about his exchange, amazed at its impeccable timing for his May 24 celebration. "I ain't even know weddings were that [dang] expensive."

Ward is bent on taking advantage of whatever opportunity he earns in Minnesota.

"I can't control what's going on wherever I go, but what I can control is [what happens] on that grass," Ward stated confidently. "Once I'm done, I'm going to leave the league and be like, 'Yeah, I did that.' "

No regrets. No what-ifs. No decisions to walk away; only to come back. Ward communicates a desire to contribute to winning games for as long as he can. He's having a tremendous time gearing up for 2024.

All that to say, the window for Ward to keep breaking through remains wide open.

"I think everybody should just enjoy every bit of this NFL experience," Ward said. "Keep living it."