HOUSTON – Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud absorbed his leadership skills in his home, and on the football field, emerging as an elite quarterback prospect after initially being an overlooked recruiting target growing up in California.
Everyone from his father, his high school coaches in Rancho Cucamonga, Ohio State coach Ryan Day and Texans coach DeMeco Ryans have all helped instill knowledge in Stroud, a respect for the game and molded him into a strong, authentic leader of men.
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Although Stroud modestly downplayed the impact of his leadership, that opinion isn’t shared by his teammates and coaches. They appreciate how Stroud has continued to answer the bell, weathering several tough situations during a trying second NFL season.
That included the emotional season-ending knee injuries of wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, his best friend, and enduring the ups and downs of an offense that’s frequently been stuck in neutral due to pass protection breakdowns and has caused Stroud to become occasionally gun-shy and prone to misfires due to the pounding he’s taken and how fast and frequently pass rushers have been in his face.
While Stroud, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and the toast of the league last year, has taken a step back statistically, he has still led the 10-7 Texans to an AFC South division title and an AFC wild-card round playoff game Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers at NRG Stadium.
“I don’t think I’m a great (leader),” Stroud said with a smile. “I don’t know, that’s probably a bad thing to say about yourself, but I don’t think I’m all that when it comes to leading. I just try to be myself. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways and, yeah, I think that kind of carried into the sport.
“Even as a kid, my mom used to always say how stubborn I was and I think just having a standard is how I hear it. It’s like stubborn, I just have a standard on how I like things to be done and how I hold myself is a standard.”
That all rings true about Stroud and his deep-thinking personality.
Introspective. Thoughtful. Competitive. Resilient.
Those traits have defined Stroud heading into his third career playoff game. QB1 is the Texans’ guy, and clear-cut leader with a consistent, steady voice who cares deeply about his teammates and coaches.
“For C.J., when it comes to the leadership piece it’s from C.J. being authentic,” Ryans said. “As I think everyone sees when C.J. is here in his interviews and everything, C.J. is authentic, he’s real. It’s not only here. It’s in the locker room around the guys and that’s what leadership is to me. As you evolve as a leader, you just be authentic to yourself. You don’t have to make up anything or make up a speech or make up something to say to guys. C.J. is being C.J.
“And that’s what our guys feed off, C.J. just being himself, being authentic as a leader. Understanding that it’s not all on him as a leader, it’s all of our guys just buying in. C.J. understanding a lot of guys are looking up to him on the team and he takes that role seriously, but it’s not a heavy weight for him because we have other leaders around him. So, I’m proud of C.J. of how he’s continued to grow as a pro in his second year. And he’ll continue to thrive and be better as a leader of our team.”
A fast and perfect day for Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and first-team offense against Titans
‘Really just not making plays:’ How Texans QB C.J. Stroud views his up-and-down season
#Texans C.J. Stroud on matchup with #Chargers defense led by Derwin James, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/F5KkQSu5LC
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 7, 2025
One year after leading the NFL in passing yards per contest and touchdown-to-interception ratio and joining Tom Brady and Joe Montana in an exclusive fraternity as the only quarterbacks in league history to finish atop those categories in the same season, Stroud dipped statistically this season while being sacked 52 times after being sacked just 38 times as a rookie.
He finished with 3,727 yards and passed for 20 touchdowns, ranking 15th in both categories and threw 12 interceptions after throwing just five interceptions as a rookie. And the former second overall pick and two-time Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State had a 63.2 completion percentage and an 87.0 passer rating.
“We’re all in a good spot,” Ryans said. “We’re ready to go play football. We’re here, it’s the playoffs, we’re ready to go play football. Just can we be the best team on Saturday? That’s all that matters for us.”
Stroud doesn’t approach public speaking as a time to button up his personality.
Whether it’s celebrating a victory and a good performance or being analytical and often as tough on himself as his critics, the 23-year-old
doesn’t mince words or hide from the truth.
#Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said team doesn't listen to 'noise' said 'I like being the underdog' and embraces being overlooked @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/DM6xo4OXz7
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 7, 2025
Stroud doesn’t hide his emotions.
When Dell suffered a dislocated knee, a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a torn medial collateral ligament, a torn lateral collateral ligament and meniscus damage against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, Stroud broke into tears as he comforted his fallen friend.
“I think it was good to see people see me in that light and knowing that there is still a human factor to me,” Stroud said. “And I am a normal person. I think that was good for people to see that we’re just normal people at the end of the day.”
Stroud envisions himself as a facilitator, orchestrating the offense and making everyone around him play at their highest standard.
“That would be making everybody around you better,” Stroud said. “Kind of like a point guard on the offense, the quarterback on the football team, the pitcher on a baseball team, just making everybody around you better.”
Stroud is keenly aware that his second NFL season has been a rough one in many respects. He’s also shouldered too much blame for what has transpired heading into the playoffs.
The symptoms of the problem have been on display nearly every week. In terms of fundamentals and mechanics, Stroud is often throwing off rhythm or off his back foot instead of stepping into his throws. In one case, in a performance against the Baltimore Ravens as the Texans were blown out, 31-2, Stroud was called one of the worst of his career, his off-target throw intended for wide-open tight end Dalton Schultz was affected by Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil being bull-rushed into him and stepping on his cleat.
Substandard pass protection has been a recurring theme and factor in Stroud’s season. He has been sacked 52 times, significantly up from his total of 38 sacks as a rookie when he was named to the Pro Bowl, and was sacked five times and hit 10 times overall by the Ravens on Christmas. Stroud completed just 17 of 31 passes for 185 yards and was picked off on an errant throw by safety Kyle Hamilton. He had a 59.2 passer rating.
He rebounded in the regular-season finale by completing all six of his throws, including a touchdown pass, for 50 yards, against the Tennessee Titans.
“It hasn’t been easy,” Stroud said. “It’s been a very, very tough year just with injuries and things like that. So, just trying my best to lead and just make everybody around me better who is in the game. And getting rapport for receivers and things like that. And just trying to stay healthy with what I’ve got. And I think it’s not just me out there, it’s everybody out there fighting every day to make plays happen.
“We put ourselves in position to be division champs and another 10-win season, which is good. And of course, our standard wasn’t necessarily hit in the regular season, but that’s why the postseason is a fresh start, 0-0 and we’ve got to do our best to put our best foot forward and play our best ball. So, we’ve got the guys that we’ve got. I’ve been able to practice with them for two weeks now, which is nice. So, it should be a lot better, I think, coming out this week.”
Has he been able to overcome some of his circumstances? Yes, he has. Has Stroud always been able to make throws and hit open targets? No, he hasn’t.
That breakdown in his game was on display against the Ravens.
“It was terrible on my behalf, probably one of my worst games of my whole career,” Stroud said. “I didn’t lead the offense the way I should have. I always got to look at myself in the mirror and be honest with myself and not good enough. Can’t hang my head down, but just got to keep going.”
The Texans are now 1-5 against teams with winning records with their lone victory over a winning team against the Buffalo Bills.
And, yes, Stroud heard the boos from the home crowd loud and clear against the Ravens. He didn’t take issue with the fans’ displeasure.
And he’s aware of former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan saying the Chargers have the equivalent of a first-round bye against the Texans.
“Noise is always going to be there,” Stroud said. “It’s part of sports, always evident in this sport. And they said the same thing about us last year, so playing the Browns and I’m not saying it’s last year, but we went out there did what we had to do to win. And that’s ultimately what the playoffs come down to is like it’s 14 teams now and the microscope is on you. We’re the first team to kick it off with the Chargers.
“So, everybody has their own opinions, which they’re entitled to have those things. So, I really don’t mind. It’s part of it. Guys are smart they probably can see film and can see that whatever they want to see. We know we have faith in what we can do and you know that we’re motivated to play and I kind of like being the underdog. I’ve been the underdog a lot of my life in my career. So, it’s actually comfortable for me.”
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Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
