CJ Stroud was the talk of the town last year! In his debut season, the young quarterback led his Houston Texans to clinch a playoff entry into the divisional round. Although his team lost the game, Stroud became a hero for the franchise and its faithful. And nothing could make Stroud’s family happier than this.

When Stroud was drafted in the second overall pick in 2023, his mother and older sister walked the red carpet with him. Born on October 3, 2001, to Coleridge Bernard Stroud III and Kimberly Stroud, the 22-year-old is the youngest of four siblings. He has two older brothers, Isaiah & Asmar, and one older sister, Ciara.

Although all four Stroud kids are standing independently on their feet today, there was a time when the family struggled financially (almost going homeless multiple times). Stroud’s father, Coleridge, was reportedly sentenced to prison due to multiple charges, including robbery & carjacking, and the four kids grew under the shadow of their mother, Kimberly. That’s why the Stroud siblings are closer to their single mother than their father.

Although much is not known about his brothers and their whereabouts, there was news that after Stroud was drafted in the NFL, one of his brothers (who accompanied him on Draft night) “whispered to him that their father, who couldn’t be there, was proud of him.” Apart from this, not much is known about them, as they like to keep a separate and private life away from any spotlight. On the other hand, Stroud’s big sister, Ciara, who also stays away from the media, came into the limelight during her appearance in Stroud’s NFL draft day. By profession, she reportedly works as the Founder and Director of A Hand Up Community Resource Center.

Ciara is like a second mother for CJ, as she has supported her brother through all ups and downs. This was evident from the incident when during the draft day, Ciara, alongside their mother Kimberly, came to support CJ on the red carpet. When asked about his sister, Stroud praised Ciara saying, “my sister has been nothing but supportive through everything, through thick and thin.” Talking about both women in life, he added after praising mom’s beauty, “My sister is also beautiful, very tall and gorgeous, so I’m blessed enough to have great women in my life.”

Additionally, he didn’t just thank the two women in his life, Stroud also made sure to give them “a 4 bedroom home in California from his NIL money in college,” ending the financial adversity. Ciara, who is also a proud sister of CJ, spoke in an interview on the NFL Draft’s red carpet last year. She said, “He’s just an amazing person through and through. I’m just so proud of him. Seeing him grow up to the man he is, it’s amazing. I love him.”

Meanwhile, besides being his sister’s favorite, CJ is also a mama’s boy.

CJ Stroud’s mother who played both mother & father’s role for him!

After Kimberly and Coleridge split in 2012, Kimberly raised her children alone, working as a property manager to support them. But being a good boy, CJ never complained about their financial struggles. When Kimberly noticed CJ had blisters from wearing cleats he had outgrown, he said he didn’t want to worry her because he knew how hard she worked. He even reassured her by saying, “You’re not gonna have to do this forever. I just want you to know that.” That was indeed emotional and a proud feeling for a single mother who worked hard for her kids and never lost hope.

Kimberly has always admired CJ’s character and resilience. She told Sports Illustrated in December 2022, “He had a choice when his father went away. He was going to let that motivate him and be the best or he was going to succumb to it and become a statistic of a kid whose parent did something they shouldn’t. I sit and I’m amazed at how resilient he is. C.J. is the most amazing human I have ever met.”

Months after Stroud made his NFL entry, in November 2023, they launched the CJ Stroud Foundation, with Kimberly as president. Though CJ wanted to name it “The Stroud Family Foundation,” Kimberly convinced him to use his name. She said, “When people see your name, they’ll know that you not only care about football but also about them.” Moreover, their first event of the foundation, “Quarterbacking Hunger,” provided Thanksgiving meals and essentials to 100 single mothers in Houston. Kimberly shared that helping single moms is one of CJ’s passions, reflecting their own experiences.

Probably that’s why Stroud is loved by many, as he is a blessed child!