After setting the record for passing yards by a rookie Sunday, with 470 yards to go with five touchdowns and no interceptions in a win over Tampa Bay, C.J. Stroud could have used his postgame press conference to talk about himself and the incredible rookie campaign he’s having.
Instead, he used the moment to talk about something much more sensitive and close to his heart, sharing an impactful message about his incarcerated father and flaws in the criminal justice system.
“I got to talk to my dad a little bit this week man. And I’m praying to God that something can happen that he can get out and come to one of these games man,” Stroud said. “I’ve been praying for him a lot, and I didn’t want to make this public man but our criminal justice system isn’t right. And it’s something that I need to probably be a little more vocal about because what he’s going through is not right.”
What shouldn’t get lost in CJ Stroud’s historic day was when asked about breaking the record he mentioned being a family man and talked about the criminal justice system involving his dad. pic.twitter.com/z6RzS5N7R5
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) November 6, 2023
While Stroud didn’t address the specific challenges his father is dealing with, he did say they were getting help from the people at Reform. He also expanded the message beyond his own personal situation, mentioning videos he saw of the terrible conditions at Mississippi prisons, which are well documented.
This took a great deal of courage by the 22-year-old Stroud, who’s dad has been serving a 38-year prison sentence since 2016 after pleading guilty to charges of carjacking, kidnapping and robbery in a drug-related incident. It’s incredible to think Stroud’s been playing the way he has for so long with all this on his heart.