CJ Stroud’s Backstory

CJ Stroud is the record-setting rookie quarterback for the Houston Texans. But he has another sports story worth mentioning: how football helped him survive a challenging childhood. 

CJ Stroud was born in Rancho Cucamonga, California, the youngest of four children, and Stroud’s family life was a troubled one. His father has been in prison for the better part of Stroud’s maturing years, and he’s still serving a sentence in a California prison.

Football was Stroud’s diversion and passion, and he was good at it, too, with an awesome record of 3,878 passing yards and 47 touchdowns and being named the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Offensive Player of the Year. But despite accomplishments on the field, scouts weren’t so sure about his overall ability–at least at the beginning–rating him initially as a 3-star recruit. That changed by the time his high school playing days were over; Stroud was the third-highest quarterback of his national graduating class.

Stroud committed to Ohio State University and excelled there as a player. His Buckeye teams went 21-4 during his career, and Stroud threw for 8000+ yards and 85 touchdowns. He had only 14 interceptions in 800+ pass attempts and finished his career with a gaudy 182.4 passer rating.

Then the 2023 NFL Draft came. Houston selected Stroud with the #2 pick overall, and it has turned out to be a very solid choice, Stroud has had a remarkable first year in the pros, piloting his Texans to second place in the AFC South going into Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He’s already a record-holder, too, because Stroud threw his first 190 NFL passes without suffering an interception (a rookie record). Even his first interception should have been a reception (it bounced off of the receiver’s hands).

Sports has helped many young people escape from (or at least cope) with an unsettling family life. Add CJ Stroud’s name to that list.