Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud put on a stellar performance in the wild-card playoff game against the Cleveland Browns on Jan. 13, 2024, leading his team to a 45-14 victory. The 22-year-old became the youngest quarterback in NFL history to win a playoff game, a feat that has cemented his status as a rising star in the league.
But it was his humility and redirection of the fame being thrust onto him over to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that sent the most powerful message.
“I just want to give all glory and praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Stroud said. “It’s been amazing being in this city for as short as I’ve been—but the love that I’ve got, I’ve really just been doing it for Houston and the people back home. I’m blessed to be in the position that I’m in and blessed enough to be playing at a high level right now. We’ve just got to keep it going. But I’m super blessed.”
C.J. Stroud originally thanked his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ after Saturdays win vs the Browns@SNFonNBC later cut it out of the interview clip.
— NFL Notifications (@NFLNotify) January 17, 2024
NBC, which broadcast the game, would go on to remove this portion of the interview from future replays.
Far exceeding pre-season expectations, Stroud has never wavered in his faith and has professed Jesus as the cause for all of his success up to this point.
“I’m blessed enough to wake up every day and to walk, to talk, to interact with people, to play football,” Stroud shared back in September. “These are all things we take for granted from a day-to-day basis. But I try to do my best to thank God through all that, because His grace and His mercy; He laid His life on the cross for us—I really believe that.”
Openly Christian while being a superstar in the NFL. Major respect to C.J. Stroud!✝️ Got mad love for the kid. I’m pullin for the Texans in the AFC and Packers in the NFC
pic.twitter.com/IO4VoW4DWj— Erima (@yungfelakut1) January 15, 2024
The former Ohio State standout has had a remarkable rookie season, leading the Texans to an 11-7 record and an AFC South division title. He threw for 4,108 yards during the regular season, the third-most ever for a rookie quarterback behind only Andrew Luck and Justin Herbert.
This type of leadership and profession of faith is what it will take to reach an entire generation of youth who look up to sports stars yet rarely get lessons on publicly professing Jesus Christ as Lord.
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
