Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud galvanized a city with the performance of his rookie year, taking his team to the playoffs and taking home the hardware to show for it.
On Thursday, Stroud won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year , surrendering only two first-place votes to Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua.
Taking the stage after the award, Stroud took the time to inspire others.
“To whatever kid that’s watching, you could do anything you put your mind to,” Stroud said. “I’m a living testimony to perseverance and trusting your goals and your dreams.”
Before Stroud was a top quarterback in college football, the second pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and the presumed savior of the Texans franchise, he battled through significant adversity. His father was incarcerated while Stroud was in middle school, leaving his family in financial ruin along with the obvious ramifications of losing a parent to prison.
His past influenced his activism, giving him the platform to share his beliefs about injustices within the criminal justice system. After some of the biggest moments of his career, Stroud took the time not to relish in the moment but to speak to the causes he believes in.