As C.J. Stroud heads into his fourth season in the NFL, he is finding his purpose in Jesus rather than the wins and the losses.
“For us, it’s faith in Jesus, and you know He’s our rock, He’s our why,” Stroud told the NFL Network at training camp, according to Christhlete.
“Before anybody ever knew me, He knew me. He knitted me in my mother’s womb, just like everybody here,” the Houston Texans quarterback continued. “And so we just give Him all the glory and all the praise before we even do anything — and while we’re doing it as well. Of course, we’re not perfect. We don’t claim to be perfect — but we’re being healed day by day.”
His team is full of strong believers.
“This team is really close when it comes to our faith. And [head coach0 DeMeco [Ryans] is somebody who is very vocal about it as well. [Defensive end] Will [Anderson Jr.] is, and I’m appreciative of God putting me in a place where football isn’t a say-all-be-all. We have something — a purpose greater than just ball,” Stroud said, before adding, “But ball is very important to us, as well.”
Ryans, who became the Texans head coach in 2023, keeps his team focused on faith.
Related: CJ Stroud Enters Year 4 Pointing to His Faith—Not Football—for Growth
“You’ve got to keep the main thing the main thing, and that’s why we’re all here — and that’s by the grace of God,” Ryans told Sports Spectrum in an interview. “Why are we in the position that we’re in? Why are we able to do what we do? That’s by God blessing us with this awesome opportunity to reach back and teach these young men, help these young men.”
“We have to stay grounded in the Word,” he continued. “We can get caught up in our work, a lot of long hours, a lot of long days. But you can’t forget what sustains us, and that’s Jesus Christ. He sustains us.”
He’s grateful his players, like Stroud, speak about what Christ has done for them.
“I truly believe you don’t have to separate it,” Ryans said of bring faith into sports. “A lot of people want athletes and everybody to separate it and not talk about it, but that’s what sustains us on a day-to-day basis.”
“So if our job is what we’re doing, we believe that God wants us to work at it with all our might and give Him the glory,” he explained, “not just put to the side because we’re playin in the NFL.”
The Houston Texas are ready for whatever is in store for them this season, and they’re certain to share their faith along the way.
Read Next: CJ Stroud Wants People to Know ‘They Can Rely on the Lord’
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
