Heading into his fourth NFL season, C.J. Stroud made several personal changes that he hopes will translate onto the field for the Houston Texans in 2026.
As the Texans continue with their offseason program, Stroud addressed the media for the first time since the 2025 season officially ended, fielding questions about those personal changes and, more importantly, his future with the Texans.
Stroud is under contract through the 2027 season, but he has not received an extension.
C.J. Stroud Puts Texans on Notice Amid Contract Uncertainty
GettyC.J. Stroud did not mince words about his future with the Houston Texans.
Stroud noted that he was aware that some believed one of his biggestâor at least most noticeableâpersonal changes, cutting his hair, was due to depression, and the Texans star vehemently denied that.
He also lamented his actions being so heavily dissected.
When it came to his future with the Texans and, more specifically, his contract, though, Stroud mostly stood on comments he has said since his final postgame presser of the 2026 season.
âI let my agent handle it,â Stroud told reporters on May 28. âIf itâs time to do it, then it is. If itâs notâmy job is football. So, thatâs what I focus on, just getting better. I think Iâve held my bargain up on that edge.
âWhatever happens, happens. Iâm excited to be a Texan this year and go from there.â
While Stroud previously expressed his belief in the work that he has put on tape over his three seasons, his tone about his future was noticeably sharper this time around than last.
âItâs not in my control. I did what I did on the field the last three years, and I thought I started off my career in a very great way. Iâm 24, got a lot of ball left ahead of me. And I think I look at my career, and Iâm doing a lot of things early in my career that a lot of people havenât done in a long time. So, Iâm grateful for that. And I know itâs not just me. Itâs my teammates, itâs my coaches, itâs the organization,â Stroud told reporters in January.
âWhatever God has for me, I donât think whatever open door he has, no man can close. Whatever closed door he has for me, no man could open. So, Iâm a firm believer in that, and Iâm going to just rock with that. But my job is done now in that light. I can only, just move forward, andâbut I want to be here as long as I can. I love the city of Houston.â
C.J. Stroud Put Life Lesson Into Action
GettyC.J. Stroud has put a valuable lesson that he learned into practice.
Stroud vowed to come back better following his turnover-riddled performance in the Texansâ two playoff games immediately after their season-ending loss to the New England Patriots.
He believes that will help him, but he asserted that he is naturally motivated.
âI think Iâm a motivated person, regardless of how we ended or how I did,â Stroud said. âOf course, that definitely helps. But I learned in my life, you gotta let failures go, let successes go just as quick as you would do a win. You gotta learn from it and go on. So, thatâs what I did.â
The Texans have expressed confidence in Stroud from owner Cal McNair to general manager Nick Caserio to head coach DeMeco Ryans.
Still, the Texans will face questions as long as Stroud remains without an extension.
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