Rookie quarterback CJ Stroud has been a revelation for the Houston Texans this season, leading the team to the playoffs after they suffered a disastrous campaign last season. Stroud has also made a name for himself off the field, especially during postgame press conferences, as a strong Christian who gives glory to God despite a slew of accomplishments that he has made on the football field in recent years.
CJ Stroud was on top of the world after leading the Houston Texans to the playoffs on Sunday, a feat that many predicted the rookie would be unable to do in his rookie year. Quickly, however, Stroud deflected the praise away from himself and toward his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Stroud, speaking to ESPN’s Lisa Salters after the game, said, “It’s a blessing. I can’t do nothin’ but just thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I’m just blessed enough to be the vessel that Christ picked to lead this great franchise. I can do nothing but just thank the Lord.”
CJ also took a moment to thank his mother, along with the other people who supported him along the way on his football journey. He spoke about his mother’s prayers during the games that gave him hope and let him compete with confidence and be completely rid of fear.
Stroud said, “I kept looking at her. More times than not, I don’t be finding her. She was so close I could hear her. She prays. Honestly, when I look up and I see her praying, it just gives me a sense of comfort, a sense of, like, my mama is praying for me. It’s got to go good.”
He continued, “I love my mom to death. She’s so supportive of me. She’s been with me through thick and thin, and I love her to death. My sister as well, my brother, my other brother, Isaiah. I miss him. I love him. Just really all my support staff. Not my support staff. Excuse me. My supportive family, Caleb, my best friends back home, the city of I.E. (Inland Empire California).”
Lastly, in an effort to keep his spreading of the Gospel going during games when it is too hard to do an interview, Stroud discussed another way that he reminds himself and his fans that God is with the Texans on the football field.
On his wristband, Stroud keeps the name of his cousin who passed away after introducing a young CJ to the game of football, a nickname for his friend group, and a cross dedicated to keeping a reminder of Jesus Christ even during the heat of NFL competition.
Finally, Stroud writes Proverbs 3:5-6, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” With his outward show of faith and his great play on the field, CJ Stroud is quickly becoming a superstar and a role model that NFL fans are embracing in droves.
Watch Stroud here:
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video
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