Tom Brady ‘bets’ Super Bowl ring on Michigan-Ohio game with rookie NFL quarterback C.J. Stroud
C.J. Stroud is enjoying a standout rookie season with some even putting him in MVP conversations.
The Houston Texans quarterback's star is growing with every passing week, and he recently appeared on Tom Brady and Jim Gray's 'Let's Go' podcast where the past and present NFL stars made an interesting 'bet' ahead of an upcoming college football clash.
Stroud and Brady's conversation covered a number of topics before inevitably pivoting towards the upcoming Ohio State-Michigan game on November 25.
Brady may be several decades removed from Michigan's bitter rivalry with Ohio but his competitive spirit still burns.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion is clearly feeling confident ahead of the matchup and made a wager of sorts with Stroud during their conversation.
"Alright so, we got a bet," Brady said. "If Ohio State wins... you get one of my Super Bowl rings."
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But to avoid any trouble Stroud may find himself over any gambling rules, Brady joked. "And if Michigan beats Ohio State then you got to give me all your youth, your agility, your time in the 40 and all your future years in the NFL."
Brady spent his entire collegiate career at Michigan. He had 395 completions for 4,773 yards and 30 touchdowns in four seasons with the Wolverines as they won the 1999 Citrus Bowl and 2000 Orange Bowl.
Stroud, meanwhile, is a former star player for the Ohio State Buckeyes. During his time there the 22-year-old was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2021 and 2022 before being selected with the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
No.2 Michigan is currently on a two-game winning streak against the No.3 Buckeyes, with both victories coming against Stroud. The Houston QB never managed to beat the Wolverines during his college career.
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At another point during their conversation, Stroud asked TB12 for advice on how to consistently play at a high level and ignore any unwanted distractions.
"I think the important thing I really want you to realise is this is now your job," Brady said. "Everyone, when they come to the game, it's a vacation, it's fun for them. … You don't need to be the source of people's entertainment over the course of the season. It's not college anymore. The earlier you get it in your mind that this is a profession and you're a professional and everyone is counting on you."
It's unlikely Stroud will ever reach Brady's level - he is a seven-time Super Bowl champion, five-time Super Bowl MVP and 15-time Pro Bowler after all.
That said, he has been a revelation for the 5-4 Texans this season, who are currently 2nd in the AFC South.
Through nine games this season, Stroud has completed 61.6 percent of his passes for 2,626 yards, 15 touchdowns and two interceptions.
Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers recently he threw for five touchdowns and a rookie-record 470 yards in a 39-37 win. He followed that up a week later by leading the game-winning drive against Joe Burrow and the Bengals in a 30-27 victory.
While Brady may be an unfair standard by which to judge Stroud, it's fair to say the sky's the limit for the consensus Rookie of the Year.