NBC Sports is being criticized for editing the postgame comments of Houston Texans’ quarterback C.J. Stroud after his team’s playoff victory last weekend.
The Texans defeated the Cleveland Browns, 45-14, behind his 274 passing yards and three touchdown passes. Stroud came off the field and talked to NBC’s Kathryn Tappen. Before he talked about his team’s performance, he praised Jesus.
“First and foremost, I just want to give all glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” Stroud said before talking about the city of Houston and the support he’s received from Texans fans in less than a year of being their quarterback. The moment was overshadowed over the course of the week as NBC appeared to edit out that part of his words in the video posted on X. The “Sunday Night Football on NBC” X account posted the video of Stroud speaking to Tappen but started it at Stroud praising the city.
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“I mean, it’s been amazing being in this city for as short as I’ve been but the love that I’ve got,” he said in the “Sunday Night Football” clip. “I’ve really just been doing it for Houston, man. People back home, I’m blessed enough to be in this position I am. Blessed enough to be playing at a high level right now. And we gotta just keep it going, but I’m super blessed.”
NBC faced backlash online over the post. Franklin Graham tweeted, “He praised Jesus BEFORE he talked about the game! I’m glad NBC is facing some backlash bc they cut out the part about Jesus.”
Here’s the unedited version:
CJ Stroud had one of the best playoff performances by a rookie QB in NFL history & then gave praise to his “Lord & Savior Jesus Christ” 👏 pic.twitter.com/L11ySZhJiU
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) January 14, 2024
Here’s the edited version:
https://www.outkick.com/nbc-edits-out-cj-stroud-praising-jesus/
“NBC edited out Houston QB CJ Stroud’s praise of Jesus Christ in their postgame interview posted to X. Why did @SNFonNBC remove Stroud saying ‘First and foremost, I just want to give all glory and praise to my Lord, Jesus Christ?’” Citizen Free Press wrote on X. “It’s disconcerting to realize NBC is actively censoring a player praising Jesus after a massive win. Would NBC have censored his speech if he praised transgenders or Palestinians?”
Stroud is open about his faith. In November, while he was in the midst of the MVP conversation, he turned his own attention to God.
“For me, it’s a lot of prayer,” he said. “A lot of knowing that God wouldn’t put anything on me that I can’t handle. I don’t deserve his grace and his mercy, but he still gives it to me and I love him for that. It’s not about me, it’s about him and his glory. So I think that’s where it comes from. I think God made me like that.”
–Alan Goforth | MV