It’s easy to glorify God when the scoreboard shines in your favor and victories bring the roar of approval. For C.J. Stroud, quarterback of the Houston Texans, faith has always been his cornerstone in moments of triumph. But Saturday was different. It wasn’t a day for celebrations—it was a day marked by pain, heartbreak, and uncertainty. Even in the sting of defeat, Stroud clung tightly to his faith in Jesus Christ.
The moment that shook Stroud came during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs when his teammate and best friend, wide receiver Tank Dell, suffered a devastating knee injury after catching a touchdown pass. Dell lay on the field, writhing in pain, his knee visibly dislocated. Stroud was visibly shaken, fighting to hold back tears as he turned to prayer.
“All you can do is really pray,” Stroud said in his postgame interview. “At the end of the day, God still gets the glory. No matter what happens to me or to Tank, I know I’m here by the grace of Jesus.”
Stroud’s words reflected a profound truth: faith doesn’t eliminate pain, but it provides a way through it. In those agonizing moments, he prayed fervently for peace and healing over Dell, placing his trust in what he described as a “miraculous God.”
Snapshots of Stroud’s emotional turmoil played out on national television. Distraught and on the verge of tears, he leaned on his teammates, including Joe Mixon and Dalton Schultz, for support. But ultimately, his comfort came from his faith.
“Once you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, He will never leave you or forsake you,” Stroud said. “I pray that Tank will find Him in this. It’s not the end for Tank; it’s just the beginning.”
Stroud’s raw honesty resonated with viewers. He didn’t sugarcoat the situation or offer platitudes. Instead, he anchored his hope in God’s promises, even amid uncertainty and heartbreak.
Stroud acknowledged that not everyone understands his unwavering trust in God. Some might question his faith, especially in moments of tragedy. Stroud, however, responds with love and prayers for those who doubt.
“There are people who might not believe or understand, but I pray that one day they will,” he shared. “God didn’t do this. It’s football. But in the Word, it says that God will never leave us or forsake us.”
For Stroud, his faith isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about trusting God’s plan, even when it’s hard to see. He believes that God can turn even the darkest moments into something good.
Stroud wasn’t alone in his prayers. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, another outspoken Christian, found Stroud after the game to offer his support and prayers for Dell.
“It shows his heart and the man of God he is,” Stroud said of Mahomes. “It meant a lot. Nobody wants to see someone get hurt, and it was nice to see their hearts like that.”
As Stroud reflected on the day, his faith remained unshaken. He reiterated that God’s love doesn’t depend on circumstances and that even in heartbreak, God’s glory shines.
“It’s not easy,” Stroud admitted. “But at the end of the day, God still gets the glory. He always listens to our prayers.”
C.J. Stroud’s testimony on and off the field is a powerful reminder of what it means to live a faith-filled life. In moments of triumph and tragedy, his unwavering trust in God inspires believers everywhere.