After going undrafted in the 1990 NFL draft, Ford signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on April 6, 1990.[2] He was waived on September 2 but later signed to the team's practice squad on October 1.[2] He was promoted to the active roster on October 19 but released on October 26 and re-signed to the practice squad on October 30 without appearing in a game.[2] Ford was promoted to the active roster again on November 2 and played in one game for the Buccaneers during the 1990 season without recording any statistics.[2][3]
Ford became a free agent in February 1991 and re-signed with the Buccaneers.[2] He was waived on August 26, 1991.[2]
Ford was signed by the San Francisco 49ers in 1992 but released on July 31, 1992.[2] He also played for the Orlando Thunder of the World League of American Football (WLAF) during the 1992 WLAF season, catching five passes for 30 yards.[4]
Ford played in five games for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League (AFL) in 1993, catching eight passes for 111 yards and one touchdown on offense while recording three solo tackles, four assisted tackles, two pass breakups, and two blocked kicks on defense.[1][5] He was a wide receiver/linebacker during his time in the AFL as the league played under ironman rules.[1][5] He appeared in 11 games for the Predators in 1994, totaling 22 receptions for 303 yards and four touchdowns, 12 carries for 43 and three touchdowns, seven solo tackles, four assisted tackles, and one pass breakup.[1][5] Ford appeared in nine games during his final season for the Predators in 1995, recording 12 receptions for 134 yards, 15 kick returns for 230 yards, three solo tackles, one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery.[1][5]
Ford played nine games for the Milwaukee Mustangs of the AFL during the 1996 season, catching 24 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns, returning 12 kicks for 175 and one touchdown, and making four solo tackles.[1][5]
Ford also played in five games for the AFL's Texas Terror in 1996, accumulating 14 receptions for 141 yards and two touchdowns, 15 solo tackles, and one interception.[1][5] He appeared in eight games for the Terror in 1997, catching a career-high 46 passes for 687 yards and 13 touchdowns while totaling eight solo tackles, four assisted tackles, one sack, three pass breakups, and one interception on defense.[1][5] The Terror became the Houston Thunderbears in 1998. Ford played in 11 games for the Thunderbears during his final AFL season in 1998, totaling 31 catches for 330 yards and nine touchdowns, 11 solo tackles, four assisted tackles, one sack, one interception, and two pass breakups.[5]