C.J. Stroud has lit up the stat sheet as a rookie quarterback for the Houston Texans, guiding them to a resurgent season alongside first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans.
Stroud’s standout production has made him one of two true front runners for the NFL‘s Offensive Rookie of the Year award alongside Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua.
C.J. Stroud’s Gaudy Rookie Production
Stroud has been more than productive for the Texans this season, stepping in immediately as the starting quarterback to strong results.
A concussion kept him out of two games on the year, but Stroud still completed 62.9% of pass attempts for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just five interceptions while also rushing for three scores across 15 regular-season starts.
His exploits helped Houston rebound from three straight seasons of four or fewer wins with a 10-7 showing on the regular season, earning the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2019 in the process.
That alone constituted a more than successful rookie campaign, but Stroud wasn’t done.
He then threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns as the Texans rolled to a 45-14 win over the Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, punching a ticket to the Divisional Round for just the fifth time in Houston’s history.
Where does all of that success, with potentially more to come, ultimately stack up among the NFL’s great seasons by rookie quarterbacks?
Other Standout Rookie QB Seasons
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
In 2004, Ben Roethlisberger had perhaps the most team success of any rookie QB after taking over as Pittsburgh’s starter early in the year following an injury to Tommy Maddox. He threw for 2,621 yards across 14 regular-season appearances, including 13 starts where the Steelers went a perfect 13-0, helping Pittsburgh secure a 15-1 finish and the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
Roethlisberger then threw for 181 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in a 20-17 Divisional Round win over the New York Jets before tallying 226 passing yards, two touchdowns, and three picks in an AFC title game loss to the New England Patriots.
That deep playoff run matched the furthest-ever playoff push by a rookie quarterback.
Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins
Dan Marino helped propel the Dolphins to a strong season as a rookie in 1983, posting a 7-2 record across nine starts and throwing for a total of 2,210 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 11 total appearances.
MORE: NFL All-Time QB Records — Season and Career Leaders
He finished third in MVP voting that year despite his low number of starts and appearances, a sign of things to come in his Hall of Fame career.
Marino’s exploits helped the Dolphins reach the playoffs before they fell 27-20 to the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round.
Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck had one of the most productive seasons of any rookie signal-caller as he debuted in 2012, starting all 16 games on his way to throwing for a rookie record 4,374 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions in the Colts’ 11-5 season.
Indianapolis qualified for the Wild Card round of the playoffs as a result, falling 24-9 to the Baltimore Ravens, as Luck threw for 288 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.
He had a few more uber-productive seasons ahead of him before injuries ultimately ended his promising career.
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert burst onto the scene with a debut 2020 season that was perhaps every bit as productive as Luck’s showing a few years prior, throwing for 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions as Los Angeles went 6-9 across his 15 starts.
Herbert was named the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year as a result despite the team’s lack of success. His production has largely continued over the following seasons despite the Chargers’ continued struggles to find much team-wide success.
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