*Although he has carved a lane of success in the NFL, C.J. Stroud has his parents to thank for laying the foundation for the man he is today. The parents, Kimberly and Coleridge Bernard Stroud III have instilled direct and indirect influences that C.J. embraced. The Houston Texans quarterback comes from good blood.
Taking note of Kimberly and Coleridge, People noted that C.J. is one of four children who came from his parents’ time together after marrying in 1997. The couple were a fixture together until Kimberly filed for divorce in 2012.
As a former pastor, Coleridge was the one responsible for influencing C.J.’s Christian faith as well as his interest in football. C.J. ultimately became the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, paving the way for a successful pro football career.
In the famed quarterback’s eyes, he would not be where he is today without his mother’s support and sacrifices when Coleridge was serving time behind bars. Coleridge was sentenced to 38 years in prison when C.J. was 13 years old. Coleridge’s conviction stemmed from charges that included carjacking, kidnapping, robbery and misdemeanor sexual battery connected to a drug-related incident. He is eligible for parole in 2040.
The circumstance had a huge effect on the future quarterback, as he realized how “tough” it can be to be a man.
“People slip up … People make mistakes. As I’m getting older, I’m realizing how tough it is to be a man — not only a man, but a Black man in our communities,” C.J. told The Columbus Dispatch in September 2022. “I think I thrive now at this age, just understanding that doing the right thing is the right way and letting God lead your life is the best way. That’s what I learned from my father.”
As for Kimberly, a mother’s love sticks with their child no matter what. A point C.J. is humbled by.
“My mom, she had to play both roles for me for a while; mother and father,” he told NFL Network in April 2023. “I’m super blessed to have a mother like I do.”
Although his father’s prison time was a less than stellar chapter in C.J.’s life, People noted that it “inspired” the athlete to be an advocate for criminal justice reform.
“I got to talk to my dad a little bit this week and I’m praying to God that something can happen that he can get out and come to one of these games … our criminal justice system isn’t right and that’s something that I probably need to be a little bit more vocal about,” C.J. said in a postgame press conference on Nov. 5. “It’s not just my dad’s situation but the whole criminal justice system is corrupt. I’ve been watching videos in Mississippi and some of the prisons have rats and roaches and don’t get me wrong. Criminals should do their time … but they’re still humans … I just wanted to shine light on that.”
C.J. made good to shine a light on criminal justice reform earlier this month when he sported custom cleats during the Texans’ game against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 4. The athlete represented REFORM Alliance during the event, which was held as part of the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative. REFORM Alliance is an organization set up to “transform probation and parole by changing laws, systems, and culture to create real pathways to work and wellbeing.”
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