After a bruising second season, C.J. Stroud made a decision that surprised people who thought fame would keep him busy all summer. He turned down events, skipped media tours, and walked away from podcast appearances. Instead, he spent time with family, leaned into his faith, and kept his focus on football. The goal wasn’t to hide but to reset.
Stroud admitted the joy of the game had slipped at times in 2024. Too many hits, too much outside noise, and too little space to breathe. This offseason became about finding balance, not headlines.
As Stroud heads into Monday Night Football in Week 2, the Houston Texans are looking to grab their first win.
Back to basics
The shift was clear to his teammates. Instead of chasing endorsement deals, Stroud organized film sessions, invited newcomers like Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon to his home, and flew his receivers out for private workouts. Wideout Xavier Hutchinson put it simply: “He went back to what he truly cares about.”
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For Stroud, that meant cutting distractions and protecting the one thing that matters, growth as a quarterback.
Keep the faith at the center
Stroud has never hidden that his faith guides him, but this year he doubled down on it. He avoided what he called the “temptations of fame,” choosing instead to spend more time at the beach with friends or at home with family. He calls it keeping his “relationship with God at the forefront.”
At just 23 years old, Stroud knows the league can chew up players who lose their way. His answer has been to tighten his circle and protect his energy.
Test on the field
All of that is about to be tested under the lights. Houston opened the season with a frustrating loss to the Rams, and now Stroud has to face Tampa Bay’s ferocious defensive front on Monday night. Vita Vea, Haason Reddick, and Yaya Diaby will be coming after him every snap.
Last season, Stroud was sacked 52 times, second most in the NFL. Houston’s challenge is to keep him upright long enough to let his accuracy and creativity take over.
Why 2025 is different
The Texans were a punchline before Stroud arrived. Since drafting him second overall in 2023, they’ve won back-to-back division titles and reached the playoffs twice. Stroud already owns an Offensive Rookie of the Year award, a 4,000-yard season, and the respect of veterans around the league.
What he wants now is to turn that foundation into a championship run. And he believes his quieter, more focused offseason gives him the best chance to do it.
“Walking around, people recognize me more,” Stroud said recently. “But I’m just a normal guy who plays football on TV. I like my privacy, I like my peace. That’s where I’ve grown.”
Big Picture for Houston
Houston is betting that a calmer, sharper C.J. Stroud is exactly what they need to take the next step. The hits will still come, the pressure will still be there, but Stroud has chosen a path that keeps him grounded.
And if he can carry that balance onto the field, the Texans might not just be a playoff team, they might be something more.
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