Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud took home the Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2023. The first-year sensation out of Ohio State had one of the best rookie campaigns you’ll ever see from a signal-caller. Stroud threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just five interceptions, leading the Texans to a 10-7 record and their first AFC South championship since 2019.
That yardage is the third-most ever from a rookie passer. Stroud’s 23 passing scores tied him with Andrew Luck and Dak Prescott for the sixth most among first-year quarterbacks. He’s also one of four quarterbacks to eclipse a 100-point passer rating in their first pro season, joining Prescott, Justin Herbert, and Robert Griffin III.
For the first time in several years, Stroud gave Houston a team to be proud of. He undoubtedly made his family proud in the process, especially his mother, Kimberly Stroud.
Kimberly Stroud at a Glance
C.J. was born to Kimberly and Coleridge Stroud III in October 2001. He had a stable home life for a good chunk of his formative years, but early in his teens, his father backslid into drug use and found himself in some legal trouble.
His resulting incarceration naturally flipped the family dynamic upside down. Scraping by to avoid homelessness also forcibly accelerated then-13-year-old C.J.’s maturation, something Kimberly couldn’t help but be impressed by.
“He had a choice when his father went away,” Stroud’s mother said. “He was going to let that motivate him and be the best, or he was going to succumb to it and become a statistic of a kid whose parent did something they shouldn’t.
“I sit, and I’m amazed at how resilient he is. C.J. is the most amazing human I have ever met,” she said.
ESPN recently shared an anecdote from Stroud’s youth, which serves as a testament to both Kimberly’s work ethic and her son’s thoughtfulness.
C.J. had outgrown his cleats but continued to play in his undersized footwear. Kimberly saw the blisters on his feet and asked him why he didn’t say something. Stroud provided a surprising answer.
“I don’t wanna bother you, Mom, because I see how hard you work,” he told her.
He’d go on to profess his determination to help provide a better life for his mother.
“Mama, you’re not gonna have to do this forever,” C.J. said. “I just want you to know that.”
Nowadays, mother and son have teamed up to help others in need. Kimberly is the president of the C.J. Stroud Foundation, which launched in November 2023. Their first order of business was providing dozens of Thanksgiving dinners, clothing, and other winter essentials to Houston-area families in need — especially those helmed by single mothers.
KEEP READING: How Does Stroud’s First Year Compare to Other NFL All-Time Rookies?
The QB had initially wanted to name their organization The Stroud Family Foundation, but his mom convinced him to put his name out front. The gesture, and the explanation she provided, both help to prove how proud she is of the young man she’s raised.
“I told him, ‘It’s not what it’s named, but what it stands for,’” Kimberly told WSYX. “We’re building a legacy within the community. When people see your name, they’ll know that you not only care about football but also about them.”