\n
![](\"https:\/\/media.swncdn.com\/via\/images\/2023\/09\/26\/32614\/32614-cj-stroud-gettyimages-julio-aguilar-stringer_source_file.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
The rookie quarterback who guided Houston to a playoff appearance while being open about his Christian faith told media members this week he doesn\u2019t talk about Jesus to get attention or to \u201clook cool\u201d but because it\u2019s something \u201cGod called me to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
C.J. Stroud led the Texans to a divisional title and first-round playoff victory this season while setting records and — prior to an injury — making a strong case for NFL MVP. He referenced his faith after each game, as he did following Houston\u2019s season-ending loss to the Baltimore Ravens over the weekend in the divisional round of the playoffs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,\u201d he said Saturday in a post-game news conference.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Earlier this season, Stroud said he viewed football as a platform for the gospel.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Stroud said players in the NFL have reached out to him and thanked him for speaking out about his faith.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI always tell people, it’s not me — it’s Him. [There\u2019s] nothing I can do to ever repay what the Lord has done in my life,\u201d Stroud told media members. \u201cAnd I don’t want to — I just want to act in what He’s calling me to do. And I’m not perfect, I make mistakes every day. But at the same time, I know the God I serve is a forgiving and graceful God.\u201d<\/p>\n
He referenced comments made by Baltimore coach John Harbaugh, who\u00a0quoted<\/a> 1 Chronicles 29:11<\/a> after the Ravens defeated Stroud\u2019s team.<\/p>\n \u201cThere’s a lot of us out here who love the Lord,\u201d Stroud said. \u201c… I appreciate everybody who reaches out, and I’m not doing it to look cool or whatever, but I’m doing it because that’s what God called me to do.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The Texans finished 10-7 in the regular season. During the three prior seasons, they went 4-12 (2020), 4-13 (2022) and 3-13-1 (2023).<\/p>\n Following his team\u2019s loss Saturday, Stroud said he leans on his faith \u201cthrough thick and thin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI’m really just blessed looking back on this year — this opportunity we had today to play in front of millions of people,\u201d he said Saturday. \u201cI’m just really grateful to God just [for] all the opportunities that He’s blessed me with. And I’m just going to lean on Him, and I know that this isn’t the end for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Discussing his high school years and his college career at Ohio State, Stroud added, \u201cI’ve grown as a person and as a man of God in a lot of different ways, so I’m just really blessed for that.\u201d<\/p>\n