Texans’ CJ Stroud Talks About Prison Reform Amid His Father’s Imprisonment

C.J. Stroud, the quarterback for the Houston Texans, had an incredible performance on Sunday, setting a rookie record with 470 passing yards and five touchdowns to help the team defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Texans’ CJ Stroud Talks About Prison Reform Amid His Father’s Imprisonment

Although Stroud’s extraordinary performance was the major topic of discussion during the news conference following the game, the Ohio State product felt compelled to address his family, particularly his father who is jailed.

Coleridge Bernard Stroud III, the young quarterback’s father, was sentenced to 38 years to life in prison in 2016 after entering a guilty plea to charges of carjacking, abduction, and robbery after a drug-related incident. Stroud has been jailed since the quarterback was in middle school.

“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,” the quarterback stated. “It’s been tough.”

Though the father for whom he was named may never witness his son play in person, he has leaned heavily on a solid support network throughout his spectacular first season, which includes his teammates, parents, and siblings.

“I got to talk to my dad a little bit this week,” he stated. “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.”

This prompted Stroud to discuss the corruption of the American criminal justice system.

“What he’s going through is not right, and I need to probably be a little more vocal about it because our criminal justice system isn’t right,” Stroud remarked. “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.”

Stroud emphasized the point that offenders must do their sentence while incarcerated, even though he thinks the criminal justice system needs improvement.

“Some of the prisons there have rats, roaches and things like that,” Stroud 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 continued by discussing routes, defensive coverages, X’s and O’s, and his outstanding play. But on Sunday, the 22-year-old’s priorities were something else entirely.

 

 

 

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