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Just eight games into his NFL career, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud already has the look of a superstar.
Stroud’s record-breaking performance on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers turned heads all across the league.
But it was what he did afterward, in front of a microphone, that left some surprised.
What shouldn’t get lost in CJ Stroud’s historic day was when asked about breaking the record he mentioned being a family man and talked about the criminal justice system involving his dad. pic.twitter.com/z6RzS5N7R5
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) November 6, 2023
Stroud’s father, Coleridge Bernard Stroud III, is incarcerated after receiving a 38-years-to-life sentence in 2016 after pleading guilty to charges of carjacking, kidnapping and robbery in a drug-related incident.
When asked about his standout performance against Tampa Bay, Stroud instead pivoted to talk about a conversation he had recently with his father and why he feels then need for criminal justice reform.
C.J. Stroud Speaks Out On Father’s Incarceration And Criminal Justice Reform
“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,” he began. “It’s been tough.
“I got to talk to my dad a little bit this week. 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.”
Stroud then said that he hesitated when considering discussing his situation publicly. But he believes it to be necessary.
“Our criminal justice system isn’t right, and it’s something that I need to probably be a little more vocal about, because what he’s going through is not right,” he said. “He called me this week, and we got to talk, and I’m praying for the situation and a reform, and the people with reform are helping me a little bit. But, I think just letting it be known that it’s not just my dad’s situation, but the whole criminal justice system is corrupt.”
He then spoke about poor living conditions he’s seen in prisons elsewhere.
“Some of the prisons there have rats, roaches and things like that,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong — criminals, they should do their time, but they’re still humans, know what I mean? I just want to shine a light on that really quick.”
Stroud then shifted the discussion to football.
But his willingness to speak up when given an opportunity shows that he’s more than ready for the spotlight. And something tells us this won’t be the last chance he has to do so.