C.J. Stroud had much bigger things on his mind than football after a record-setting performance at NRG Stadium in Houston’s last-second victory over the Tampa Bay Bucs.
The rookie quarterback had something to say about his father and prison reform.
C.J.’s father, Coleridge Bernard Stroud III, pleaded guilty in 2015 to charges of carjacking, kidnapping, robbery, and misdemeanor sexual battery. The charges stemmed from a drug-related incident that ended with Coleridge jumping into San Diego Bay just to avoid cops.
It was the second time he was being sent to prison which sent his family into financial ruin without him. He’s in the middle of serving a 38-year prison sentence.
After Sunday’s game, Stroud had something to say about his father.
“What I’ve been battling with is trying to still be a family man, still help out, and still be a football player and do my job,” Stroud said. “It’s been tough.”
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Stroud just wants his father to be able to see him play in person one day.
“I got to talk to my dad a little bit this week,” he said. “And 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.”
C.J. Stroud has been impressive early in his NFL career, but Sunday marked a true breakout as he set the rookie record with 470 passing yards while adding five touchdowns, including the winner in the final seconds.
His fifth touchdown pass came on his final pass of the game, the go-ahead 15-yard scoring strike to fellow rookie Tank Dell, who famously called the rookie and told him to tell the Texans to draft him.
