CJ Stroud Reflects On NBC Prayer Ordeal, Leadership Origins After Award-Winning Rookie Season

The biggest stars in football have descended upon Las Vegas ahead of Super Bowl LVIII, and that includes one of the game's rising stars, Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud. 

The former Ohio State Buckeye joined Chad Withrow and Jonathan Hutton — hosts of OutKick's Hot Mic with Hutton And Withrow — on set with the Pepsi Rookie of the Year trophy (which looks like a giant chess pawn) in tow to talk about not being afraid to display his faith and also where he acquired his leadership qualities.

Stroud is known to be open about his Christian beliefs, something that NBC clipped out of one of his post-game interviews early in the postseason. 

"It's how I was raised," Stroud said. "I've been really giving God the glory and the praise since I've been a child and it's something that I was always gonna do regardless if people liked it, and I and I'm gonna continue to do it."

Stroud talked about how he was thankful to have a platform like he does to express his faith, although he noted how it has only come up recently, despite him having done essentially the same thing his entire life.

"That's what's, like, funny to me is that I've been doing it for such a long time, but people now are only tuning in because of what's hot right now," he continued. "It's still cool. I have a lot of support, and I'm not mad about the NBC thing or anything like that. You know, I just wish, of course, It wasn't that. I just, you know, pray for everybody.

"It's like one of those things where it's not in my control, so I can't do nothing about it. I can just be myself and that's what I'm gonna be all the time."

CJ Stroud showed incredible leadership abilities for someone in their first NFL season. (Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports) 

Stroud Talked The Origin Of His Leadership Abilities

One of the things that stood out most about Stroud was the way he quickly became one of the Texans' leaders, despite his rookie status.

Stroud told Hutton and Withrow that this isn't something new and that he has had many of these leadership qualities since childhood.

"Yeah, I feel like I've been a natural-born leader since I've been a child," Stroud said. I've always been really focused. I've always been mature; I've been more mature than my age would say. A lot of older people tell me that; I'm not just making that up.

I don't know, I just think that's something that God put in my heart, you know? "Just to lead and lead by example, but also vocally because I think that's just as important. So I've been a leader since I've been a child. In youth ball, I was always the one to break it down in the huddle and to give pregame speeches."

Stroud noted that this wasn't something he was doing to merely gain the title of captain.

"I really do it because I care about my guys and wanted to build that trust this year with my guys on the Texas and I feel like we got that job done."