‘I Want My Own!’ Texans’ Stroud Refuses To Look at Lombardi Trophy.
The Houston Texans are predicted to win the AFC South going into the 2024 season and advance past the AFC Divisional Round, where their 2023 campaign ended. That’s a far way from the 6.5 victories they were predicted at the start of the season. A lot of praise should go to general manager Nick Caserio, head coach DeMeco Ryans, and the other players that stood up. But it is quarterback C.J. Stroud who has done more to make Houston a contender. With 48 of 50 first-place votes for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Stroud brought home the gold to cap off one of the most outstanding rookie seasons in recent memory.
The personal honors are nice, but as Stroud will be the first to tell you, the real prize is the Lombardi Trophy, which goes to the winning Super Bowl team. He won’t even glance at the trophy that the San Francisco 49ers or the Kansas City Chiefs will raise on Sunday.
Sitting next to the trophy on “Up & Adams,” Stroud refused to pay it any more respect than his peripheral view. Stroud remarked, “I don’t want to look at it yet.” “I refuse to examine it.” When asked why not, Stroud said succinctly. “It’s because I want mine,” Houston’s incredible season came to an end as they were defeated by the Baltimore Ravens, who went on to finish as the AFC runner-ups. The team is headed in the right direction and the fan base is revitalized, but the Texans are headed for the same disappointing end as 29 other clubs.
But Stroud isn’t concerned about 2023 coming to an end. He has more ambitions. “I simply have the urge to focus on the person I want to prevail over. That’s already available to two other teams, and since that’s not my team, I’m not available in those games, Stroud jokingly said. “So I think I’d better wait for mine until next year.”
The Texans’ quest for a Super Bowl berth depends heavily on this offseason. With prominent free agents and potent rookie classes, Stroud’s rookie window presents an opportunity that might mean the difference between a team languishing in the first round of the playoffs and winning their own Lombardi Trophy.
