“I’m rooted in Christ,” says quarterback C.J. Stroud

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans dazzled fans last season by passing for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns on the way to a divisional championship, Pro Bowl appearance and multiple records for a rookie. Fans recognized Stroud for something else, too: his strong faith, which he often referenced during postgame interviews.

Although he grew up in a Christian home. He didn’t get serious about his faith until he was in college when two Ohio State teammates, Kamryn Babb and Xavier Johnson, invited him to church. During the first few minutes of praise and worship, he said he fell to his knees, crying, deeply convicted that he was not on the right path with Christ.

“That was a moment I was like, man, I need to get back on track,” Stroud said, according to “Crosswalk. “And that was when I started to really try to find Christ for who he was in my life.”

He kept attending church and met “great brothers in Christ,” who encouraged him in his Christian walk. “Without Jesus, man, I don’t really know if I would be here right now, to be honest with you,” he said.

Stroud finished third in the Heisman voting as a senior while leading Ohio State to the College Football Playoffs. He was the second pick overall in the 2023 NFL draft.

“My identity isn’t just quarterback, it isn’t just Houston Texans, it isn’t just football,” he said. “First of all, I’m rooted in Christ and who he thinks I am. Second of all, in who my family thinks I am. My identity is through Christ, so how can I serve every day to be more like him and to help one of those around me?”

Stroud expressed amazement at Christ’s grace and mercy.

“I’m not perfect,” he said. “I try to do my best, and I’m working on things every day. His grace is so sufficient. His mercy is amazing. We don’t deserve it. But, you know, he died on the cross for our sins. And I’m just really appreciative of that, because that holds a lot of weight.”

–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice