C.J. Stroud has suffered a similar fate in each of his three NFL seasons with the Houston Texans. He has made it to the playoffs and won a game in all three years, but has failed to win a second in any of them. His third consecutive poor result was followed by a new haircut, which prompted some around the league to speculate on his current mental state.
C.J. Stroud Responds To His Mental State Being Questioned After New Haircut
Stroud has rocked a signature look with his dreaded haircut, dating back to his college football career with the Ohio State Buckeyes and continuing through his three years with the Texans. This will no longer be the case after he cut them off in favor of a more faded haircut.
Offseason rumors then began to circulate, contemplating what his bold decision to drastically change his look means.
Among the apparent theories were that his mental state is suffering from failing to take a step forward last season, and some even suggested that it may signify that he could be on his way out of Houston. The young quarterback responded to the speculations during a media appearance at OTAs.
“I was told people thought I was depressed,” Stroud said. “I wasn’t, I was doing OK. I had been thinking about cutting my hair for a long time… I hate that everything in my life is so public. People just have narratives, but it’s the life I’ve chosen to live, so it’s all good. I like my haircut.”
Stroud shot down any theories suggesting his haircut has anything to do with where he currently stands ahead of his fourth NFL season.
He went on to explain that this is the haircut he is most comfortable with, as he has had it for most of his life. He described the dreads as a newer experiment he was just ready to move on from.
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Stroud has surely regressed during his time in Houston since bursting onto the scene by winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award in his first season with the Texans. According to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, he posted an impact score of 81.9 in his first season, ranking fifth in the league. However, he has ranked just 33rd and 19th in years two and three, respectively.
His three playoff wins in three years are solid, but Stroud will look to make a deeper run in the 2026 season as the Texans have one of the best rosters in the league.
