Texans rookie C.J. Stroud already has post-playing career in mind

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is about to finish his rookie regular season but is already thinking about life after his playing days. 

"I just really love movies and TV shows, that’s kind of like my getaway," Stroud told Jenna Lemoncelli of the New York Post for a piece published Friday. "Movies helped me escape my reality at times when I was a kid. They helped me get into a new mindset… and showed me here’s a different way of life, you know? I always kind of just joke around, but after I’m done playing, I want to kind of be an actor or something. I want to see what it’s like because I just love TV shows and movies." 

Stroud, the second overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, turned 22 years old in October and, thus, should have plenty of time to think about what he'll do whenever he rides off into the sunset of his playing career. He likely has other things on his mind heading into the weekend, as Jeremy Cluff of the Arizona Republic mentioned earlier this week that 9-7 Houston would earn a playoff berth with a win at the 9-7 Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night. 

The Texans would claim the AFC South title with a win coupled with the 9-7 Jacksonville Jaguars either losing to the 5-11 Tennessee Titans or playing to a tie in that matchup on Sunday. 

"Something that will make you feel good — and also, I would want to be in a TV show like 'Power' or 'Snowfall,'" Stroud added about potential future acting gigs he could pursue. "I would like to be like a ’90s drug kingpin or something." 

Stroud probably will first become the Offensive Rookie of the Year. As of late Friday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed him as the overwhelming betting favorite at -1000 odds to earn that honor. 

Per Pro Football Reference, Stroud begins Week 18 ranked sixth in the NFL among qualified players with a 99.0 passer rating and third with an average of 274.6 passing yards per game on the season. Across his first 14 contests, he tossed 21 touchdown passes and only five interceptions.