C.J. Stroud ‘praying’ for jailed dad as Texans rookie QB becomes talk of NFL and enters MVP debate
C.J. Stroud is fighting two battles at once.
Stroud is a rookie quarterback making NFL history, trying to lift up the once-broken Houston Texans and move the franchise into a bright new era after everything suddenly fell apart with Deshaun Watson.
Stroud, 22, is also a father's son and his father is in prison.
"I got to talk to my dad a little bit this week,†Stroud said. “I’m praying to God that something can happen that he can get out and come to one of these games. I’ve been praying for him a lot.â€
The Texans rookie spoke those revealing words after putting up historic numbers in the Texans' thrilling 39-37 home win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in a contender for the NFL game of the year.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft completed 30-of-42 passes for 470 yards, five touchdowns and a 147.8 rating.
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Stroud was almost perfect on a day when multiple things went against the Texans, including the loss of a field-goal kicker, and a backup running back being forced to knock through a critical kick that ultimately played a huge role in a two-point win.
The rookie followed up that inspiring win with an even bigger last-second, 30-27 road win against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
During the build up to the draft, Bryce Young was elevated and praised, while Stroud was picked apart and some questioned his ability to take football intelligence tests.
Young beat the Texans two weeks ago but has struggled overall.
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Carolina is 1-8, which is tied for the worst record in the NFL.
Stroud is the clear favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year, while the Texans (5-4) are in the playoff picture with a rookie head coach, despite losing two games on painful last-second field goals.
Stroud's numbers through eight games are surreal.
The former Ohio State star has completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,270 yards, 14 TDs, only one pick and a 102.9 rating, which ranks fourth in the NFL.
Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts all trail the Texans QB in that key category.
But as Stroud received a national spotlight following his historic 470-yard outburst, he reflected the light on his father, Coleridge Bernard Stroud III, who is serving a 38-year prison sentence for charges including carjacking, kidnapping and robbery.
"That's what I've been battling with," Stroud said. "Trying to still be a family man and still be a football player and do my job."
Stroud had a strained relationship with his father but the two have begun to make amends.
Speaking out about his father's situation has allowed the Texans QB to turn a light on what he referred to as a "corrupt" criminal justice system.
“I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from it, a lot of people saying that they’re proud of me for just being so vulnerable with something that’s personally in my life," Stroud said.
As the rookie QB leads the remade Texans, Stroud is making his NFL name and putting all the draft chatter in the past.
Young is an afterthought for the Texans.
Stroud is the obvious answer for a team that went 11-38-1 the past three years and fired two one-and-done coaches.
The No. 2 draft pick who just made NFL history is also trying to help his father and others living life in a prison system that Stroud believes is unjust.
"My dad actually asked me not to – he always just wanted me to focus on ball," Stroud said. "I honestly did it just to shine a light on it, not just for his situation, but for the whole thing.
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"Don’t get me wrong, you make a mistake and it’s criminal, whatever the case may be – you should do whatever you have to do to pay it back to whatever that means, you know what I mean? Whatever crime you commit, you have to reap the consequences for that.
"At the same time, these are still people. I have love for everybody and that’s what the Lord asked us to do. So for me, I’ll just try to do my best to shine light on things that not only personally affect me but affect people that I can see with my own two eyes. I can feel that.â€