‘Embarrassed’ CJ Stroud admits turning into a cold-hearted person after father’s arrest

Second-year QB CJ Stroud and Houston Texans are leading the AFC South with six wins in the first half of the NFL season.

‘Embarrassed’ CJ Stroud admits turning into a cold-hearted person after father’s arrest

CJ Stroud (Image via Imago)

Houston Texans’ second overall (2023 Draft) CJ Stroud was one of the highlights of last year. Stroud, a rookie in 2023 came close to being only the second NFL rookie QB to win an MVP. Eventually, he settled for an OROY with his explosive performance.

Born to Kimberly Stroud and Coleridge Bernard Stroud, CJ Stroud’s life was heavily influenced by his parents. Stroud had a rocky childhood, which took a different turn when he was just thirteen years old. The second-year quarterback’s father, a pastor by profession, was jailed after pleading guilty to a carjacking, kidnapping, robbery, and misdemeanor sexual battery charge in 2015. He was later sent to prison for 38 years.

The player has been advocating for prison reforms since his time as a Buckeye at Ohio State. However, he has increased the amount of support after entering a much more public platform, the NFL. Stroud had even sported customised prison reform cleats in December 2023 with the words, “free pops.”

In a recent interview with Taylor Rooks, Stroud opened up a bit more on how his father’s arrest developed him as a player and a human. He added that the incident made him feel betrayed. Furthermore, Stroud, who considered his dad as his best friend, expressed that his dad’s actions made him cold-hearted. Nevertheless, he adds that he didn’t let it become something negative.

I felt like betrayed… I felt like why? Why would you do that? I turned into a cold-hearted person… Became very introverted, I was ashamed. I was embarrassed… There wasn’t a day that I wasn’t on that field grinding, in the weight room, trying to get better. Watching film.

CJ Stroud said

Stroud also shared some important notes on forgiveness as well. He admitted that he didn’t speak to his dad for three years.

(Forgiveness) is about sacrifice… and being vulnerable. Like really accepting the truth. And I accepted my dad’s flaws. I accepted my dad’s wrongdoings, and I accepted my wrongdoings… and I felt way better. This is the best I’ve felt in years. I just feel like a kid again.

CJ Stroud added

The quarterback is in better shape than he was years ago. He’s healing slowly, focusing on his career in football. The Texans are looking to hit the postseason as they stand 1st in the AFC South with a 6-3 record. There are some minor problems there with Stroud picking up some troublesome patterns in the past few weeks.

CJ Stroud embarrassed by TNF loss to New York Jets amid regression rumours

CJ Stroud said that he feels embarrassed after losing in primetime to a struggling New York Jets. The opponents were able to snap a five-game losing streak which included a loss to New England Patriots. The Jets, in fact, didn’t score at all in the first half.

CJ Stroud
CJ Stroud wants to tighten the ship after a humbling loss to the New York Jets at primetime (Image via Imago)

It’s embarrassing to come out here in a prime-time game and get embarrassed like that is never fun. We have to be better in a lot of areas, and that starts with me. There are plays I’ve got to make, throws I’ve got to make.

CJ Stroud said

Stroud struggled mightily, completing just 11 of 30 passes for 191 yards and suffering eight sacks as the Texans (6-3) were without injured receivers Stefon Diggs and Nico Collins. His sack count rose to thirty, second to only Deshaun Watson, who’s out of the season. The sack count and the offensive lineup falters have become a troubling pattern for the Texans in the past weeks.

Stroud also added that they should try to dominate more games going forward. He expressed that they should stop going with the flow, before stating that although this was a wake-up call, they ‘are’ still hot and dangerous.