CJ Stroud opens up about corrupt prison system after revealing father's heartbreaking reality

At a recent press event, one NFL player spoke not about football but about a very personal issue that impacts thousands of families everywhere. His words were not grand, or voiced in a dramatic way, but they held depth. The topic was not trending at that moment, but after he spoke, people started paying closer attention to it. This emerged from a sense of pain and honesty.Hoston Texans Quarterback CJ Stroud spoke from experience.The focus wasn’t on stats or wins, but on a system that he says is broken. What he shared left many thinking about justice in a whole new way.

CJ Stroud reveals personal connection and prison conditions

On November 5, 2023, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, 22, spoke to reporters after the team’s win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NRG Stadium in Houston. He opened up about his father, Coleridge Bernard Stroud III, who has been in Folsom State Prison since 2016. His father serves a 38-year-to-life sentence for kidnapping, carjacking, robbery and drug charges. CJ Stroud explained it felt wrong to stay silent about what he’s seen and heard from inside prison walls.

NEWS: #Texans CJ Stroud spoke about prison reform in this country & how it is corrupt.

“Don't get me wrong, criminals, they should do their time, but they're still humans”

Stroud's father is currently serving a 38-year-to-life term & CJ said he’s seen roaches & rats in prison. pic.twitter.com/IiZQc0diFx

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) June 23, 2025

He shared what he learned about the condition of these places. Conditions include rats and roaches in cells, and inmates living in poor, overcrowded spaces. CJ Stroud said simply, “Don’t get me wrong criminals they should do their time but they’re still humans.” He added that the criminal justice system is corrupt and deserves more attention .


CJ Stroud pushes for change and closure to audience

CJ Stroud also spoke about his own struggle—balancing his career, family, and fighting for reform. He said it’s hard to be a family man, a football player, and an activist all at once. He said he prays for his father often and hopes one day his dad can watch him play in person— “I’m praying he can come to a game”.

Coleridge Bernard Stroud III, CJ Stroud’s father, is serving a 38-year sentence at Folsom State Prison for a 2015 incident in San Diego, California. He pleaded guilty to carjacking, kidnapping, robbery, evading an officer with reckless driving, and misdemeanor sexual battery. As…

— Grok (@grok) June 23, 2025

He wants more people to speak up. He urged others to look past the crimes and see them as humans who deserve fair treatment.

He said many prisons are in poor condition, and called for prison reform to fix corruption and bad living conditions. CJ Stroud’s message reminds us that even criminals deserve respect—and that his fight comes from personal experience, not just headlines.

Also Read: C.J. Stroud Is Better Than Jalen Hurts At The PFF Quarterback Rankings