Texans owner Cal McNair makes big statement about uncertain future of C.J. Stroud

The long-term future of Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is up in the air after he produced a pair of rough performances during the playoffs this past January. 

During a recent chat with Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle, Texans owner Cal McNair voiced his support for his current QB1. 

Are Texans truly behind C.J. Stroud this offseason?

"We’re totally behind him," McNair said about Stroud. "He’s totally bought into being our quarterback and all that entails." 

While Stroud earned Offensive Rookie of the Year Award honors for the 2023 season, he noticeably regressed over the past two campaigns. Most recently, he tossed four interceptions in the first half of Houston's 28-16 divisional-round loss at the New England Patriots on Jan. 18. Over his last two playoff games, he threw five picks and lost two of five fumbles. In total, Stroud has gone 3-3 as a postseason starter.

This week, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans insisted that Stroud has been "dialed in to the offseason and really working" since January. That said, Mike Jones of The Athletic noted that "it remains to be seen" if the Texans will make any commitment to Stroud other than picking up the fifth-year option for 2027 attached to his rookie contract. Noticeably, McNair did not say that the Texans are eager to lock Stroud down via a multiyear extension this spring. 

Texans know C.J. Stroud is "trying to get better"

"We all want to get better every year," McNair added during his comments about Stroud. "He’s doing that. We’re doing that. Everyone is doing that in the organization. Everybody is trying to get better every day."

Fair or not, the perception exists that McNair and others within the Texans want to see if Stroud will get better before the club marries itself to a 24-year-old who has endured ups and downs as a starter. It also sounds like the Texans still think Stroud can reach the potential many thought he had as a rookie. 

"You can’t judge somebody based on one or two games because he did a lot of great things as well," Texans Foundation vice president Hannah McNair said about Stroud. "It’s hard that those games happened to be in the playoffs. But I think C.J. is the type of guy that takes that to heart, and what you’ve seen this offseason is that he’s working hard. Because he doesn’t want to be in that position again. I’m sure he doesn’t."