CJ Stroud has a subtle reaction to him seemingly trying to babysit Caleb Williams after handing him his first NFL loss

CJ Stroud explained he was trying to advise Caleb Williams to learn from his mistakes and failures because other players shared the same with him during his rookie season.

CJ Stroud has a subtle reaction to him seemingly trying to babysit Caleb Williams after handing him his first NFL loss

(L) Caleb Williams and (R) CJ Stroud (Image via IMAGO)

CJ Stroud and Caleb Williams were polar opposites on Sunday night when they faced each other in Houston. While Stroud finished with 260 yards and 1 passing touchdown, Williams threw 2 interceptions, and even after 2 games, he is yet to touch the 200-yard mark.

The Houston Texans secured a narrow six-point game, but the scoreline did not reflect the Chicago Bears‘ performance on the field. Besides a league average of 174 yards through the air, the Bears did not run the ball efficiently either, with 71 combined rushing yards from four designated runners.

YouTube video

After the game, Stroud located Williams in the middle of the field and tried to convey some words to the rookie. The cameras picked up bits and pieces of the conversation, but it seemed the Bears quarterback wasn’t in the mood for a lecture. Williams kept his distance while Stroud continued with his monologue.

FS Video

The exchange between the two players divided opinions. One side praised Stroud for trying to look out for a fellow quarterback, and the other side criticized the 2024 #1 pick for his rude demeanor.

KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson spoke with CJ Stroud, asking him about his thoughts about the viral exchange. The 22-year-old replied that he wasn’t trying to talk down to Williams but rather explained that it takes time for rookies to settle in the NFL.

I wasn’t like trying to little bro him. He knows that too, and I have got ton of respect for him. I had so many guys coming to me after the games last year, and that meant the world to me that those guys thought about giving me advice, so I was just trying to give back what the game has given me.
CJ Stroud said.
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CJ Stroud’s jersey outsells Patrick Mahomes’

Stroud’s assessment of his rookie year was spot on. He went through a difficult phase initially but acclimatized to the NFL’s unforgiving atmosphere and thrived in it as the season progressed. He led the Texans to their first playoff appearance since 2019, finishing with a divisional playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

CJ Stroud clarifies that he wasn't "trying to little bro" Bears QB Caleb Williams at post game after Texans 13-19 win
CJ Stroud (Image via IMAGO)

Regardless, it was a successful debut campaign for Stroud, who recorded 319 completions for 4108 yards- league-high 273.9 yards per game, 23 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. The league named him the offensive rookie of the 2023 season.

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The exposure catapulted him to become one of the most exciting players to watch, charming even the rival fanbases. As a result, Stroud’s jersey sales have been on the up, and according to the NFLPA, he took over the #1 spot for the most jerseys sold (March 1 to May 31, 2024), leaving behind 3x Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes.

Top 10 players among all officially licensed products sold as per NFLPA:

  1. C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans
  2. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
  3. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions
  4. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions
  5. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
  6. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia
  7. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
  8. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
  9. Micah Parsons, LB, Dallas Cowboys
  10. Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers