Imagine yourself as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now. Do you think everyone’s going to love you for it? It’s impossible to stay in everyone’s good books. Just ask C.J. Stroud about it. Yes, there will be no stutter if we consider Stroud to be amongst the finest QBs. Even though the Texans had tough luck against the Chiefs in the divisional round, C.J. gave it everything he had, even outshining Patrick Mahomes with 245 passing yards. Nobody likes to come so far and fall down. The crushing weight of fan expectations and rival naysayers only makes it harder to breathe.
It’s pretty common for fans to get a little agitated after a bad game. I mean, a win or loss is enough to make or break your day, right? Players don’t have the time to pick up on negativity or respond to every bit of criticism. But you know how moms are—they’re the most sensitive when it comes to their kids. In a recent episode of The Mom’s POV Show, C.J.’s mom, Kimberly Stroud, shared her feelings about the hate her son received, saying, “You don’t even have to like us, but just be respectful.”
When you’re a mother, you can’t just stand by and let your son get thrashed on the internet because of a bad game. Kimberly admitted on The Mom’s POV Show, “I, for one, don’t take to social media and say much, but I sure am tempted.” But it seems like C.J. is not just wise with his gameplay but his principles in life too. Kimberly shared that she holds her tongue because her son insists on rising above the hatred. “You have to be above it.” C.J. Stroud once told her after a college-era social media incident where Kim couldn’t resist engaging with a troll. Guess what C.J. did? He caught her post almost instantly and made her delete it.
Over time, she realized that it’s not always parents teaching their kids a lesson—sometimes, kids can do that too. On Christmas Day, Stroud faced the brutal sting of a 31-2 loss to the Ravens. Drawing backlash from fans and critics alike. But instead of crumbling, the Texans quarterback showed resilience in a post-game conference. C.J. Stroud answered like a true sportsman, “You hit a lot of valleys and you have a lot of mountaintops. It’s a cliché, but there’s not sunny days if there aren’t days with rain. So, this is a rainy day, but at the end of the day, the sun will rise up tomorrow and we have another crack at this thing next week and keep rolling.”
What drives C.J. Stroud’s mom to defend her son against the critics?
Just because his name is C.J. Stroud doesn’t mean fans should start acting like it’s GTA San Andreas. Let’s rewind a bit to his college days. As a star player of the Buckeyes, Stroud was no stranger to the highs and lows of college football. Back in 2022, when Ohio State took a hit with a blowout loss to Michigan, the rivalry took a dark turn. Fans were left bitter and revealed the ugly side of fan culture—death threats.
After the game, Stroud’s mother, Kimberly, shared that her son received death threats from so-called “fans” who crossed the line in their frustration. Yet, despite the vile messages, C.J. Stroud wasn’t shaken. As he geared up for the College Football Playoff, he said, “You accept the good with the bad.” In true sportsmanship, he didn’t let the hate distract him. And even though those death threats were a heavy burden, Stroud remained unbowed, ready to prove his worth in the NFL journey.
The post C.J. Stroud’s Mom Sends a Clear Message on Fan Hatred After Texans QB Once Received Death Threats appeared first on EssentiallySports.