Texans' C.J. Stroud Recalls Impact Of Playing in Snoop Dogg's Youth Football League

Houston Texans star C.J. Stroud's path to becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL as a rookie began as a 12-year-old playing in Snoop Dogg's youth football league.

Speaking to ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime, Stroud talked about the learning experience he went through playing in the league created by the hip-hop icon in 2005:

"I was so competitive and wanted to win so I was like 'I have to find a way to be a leader and relate to these guys.' That was my first step. I started hanging out with guys off the field, my mom would have kids come over and spend the night. She would allow me to go over to their houses. It was good for me to learn, this is how you build a brotherhood. I wasn't even thinking about that back then. But now that I'm older, that's what that was."

Stroud also praised the league for teaching him how to "gain trust and learn what works for what guys" in order to maximize their ability on the field.

Snoop has talked in the past about the what he saw from Stroud as a young man and how that has stayed with him over the years.

The Snoop Youth Football League has been a nurturing ground for several current NFL players. New England Patriots wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs, Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones and San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir are among the SYFL alums playing in the league.

According to Bien-Aime, Stroud's experience in the youth league marked his first time playing with other kids from and around his hometown of Rancho Cucamonga, California. He also had Priest Brooks, a coach in the league, guide and empower him to take on a leadership role.

Stroud took the lessons he learned as a youth player and developed them to become one of the top high-school recruits in the country in 2020 when he committed to Ohio State. He was a two-year starter for the Buckeyes in 2021 and 2022, throwing for 8,123 yards and 85 touchdowns in 25 games.

The Texans believed in Stroud enough to select him with the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL draft. He rewarded their faith with one of the best rookie seasons in recent history. The 22-year-old threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions in 15 starts.

Houston won the AFC South with a 10-7 record after winning a total of 11 games in the previous three seasons combined.