Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud entered his sophomore season with massive expectations following his Rookie of the Year win in 2023.
He wrapped up his rookie season with a 64% completion rate, throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. This performance places him in an elite group of quarterbacks, including Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, and Justin Herbert, who surpassed 4,000 yards and 20 passing touchdowns in their first year.
Stroud also led the Texans to a 10-7 record and their first AFC South championship and playoff appearance since 2019.
C.J. Stroud’s Parents: Kimberly and Coleridge Bernard Stroud III
Texans fans had the added opportunity to root for Stroud to lead the team to its sixth playoff win in franchise history, which he did by defeating the Cleveland Browns. Stroud’s parents, Kimberly and Coleridge Bernard Stroud III, also had that opportunity — even if the latter came from behind bars.
Stroud’s father, Coleridge Bernard Stroud III, has been incarcerated since C.J. was in middle school after incurring a laundry list of charges from an incident in 2015.
According to Sporting News, he’s presently serving a 38-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to several offenses, including carjacking, kidnapping, robbery, and misdemeanor sexual battery.
Per reports, the crimes of the elder Stroud occurred in San Diego back in April 2015. He allegedly forced his way into a woman’s car at a traffic light, demanding she take him to buy drugs. The woman managed to escape and reported the incident to the police. Stroud further complicated the situation by fleeing in the stolen vehicle when authorities arrived.
This wasn’t Stroud’s first encounter with legal trouble. In the 1990s, he faced multiple convictions for crimes, including drug possession, receiving stolen property, and armed robbery. He is currently incarcerated at Folsom State Prison in California, with parole eligibility set for 2040.
C.J.’s personal experiences have fueled his passion for criminal justice reform, as highlighted in the interview clip below.
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
Still, Stroud’s father shouldn’t be defined only by his mistakes. He was a humongous influence during C.J.’s formative years — he was a pastor for many years, according to People. His son made his stance on his father’s prison reformation very clear after a Week 9 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.
“I got to talk to my dad a little bit this week. I’m praying to God that something can happen, that he can get out and come to one of these games. I’ve been praying for him a lot.”
Coleridge and his then-wife, Kimberly, co-founded the Life Application Christian Center in Rancho Cucamonga, California. During a 2018 appeal, Coleridge described himself as someone who had “spent nearly 20 years as a successful businessman, pastor, homeowner, husband, and father.”
Expressing regret, Coleridge explained that after Kimberly filed for divorce in 2012, his “life spiraled out of control,” leading him to relapse into drug use after more than two decades of sobriety.
The separation, along with Coleridge’s legal troubles, plunged the family into financial hardship. Struggling to avoid homelessness, it also forced a then-13-year-old C.J. to mature quickly.
“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.
Kimberly stepped up admirably in a challenging situation. As a single mother of four, she took on a job as a property manager at a storage facility to support C.J. and his siblings. Her determination inspired Houston’s star QB to work towards creating a better life for his mother.
ESPN recently shared an anecdote from Stroud’s youth, which serves as a testament to both the mom’s work ethic and her son’s consideration.
C.J. had outgrown his cleats but kept playing in his ill-fitting shoes. When Kimberly noticed the blisters on his feet and asked why he hadn’t said anything, Stroud gave an unexpected response.
“I didn’t want to bother you, Mom, because I see how hard you work,” he told her.
He then expressed his resolve to create a better future for his mother.
“Mama, you won’t have to do this forever. I just want you to know that.”
Now, Kimberly and C.J. have joined forces to support those in need. Kimberly serves as president of the C.J. Stroud Foundation, which was established in November 2023. Their inaugural efforts focused on providing Thanksgiving dinners, clothing, and winter essentials to families in the Houston area, particularly single mothers.
Although C.J. initially proposed naming the organization “The Stroud Family Foundation,” his mother persuaded him to use his name instead. This choice, along with her explanation, reflects her immense pride in the person her son has become.
“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.”