LOOK: Houston Texans Celebrate C.J. Stroud's 22nd Birthday

After a shaky start to his season, Houston Texans rookie C.J. Stroud has proven himself as a leader on and off the field — and at just 22 years old.

Becoming an NFL franchise quarterback as a rookie is no simple task. 

Sure, the luxury of being treated like a star, most times complete with a captain distinction at a ripe 21 or 22 years old, is everything a young football player dreams of. 

But that's about the only part of the job that's easy. Everything after that — from the pressure of years-old defensive monsters looking to give you a "Welcome to the NFL" moment to a fanbase calling for your job after one interception — is what presents challenges.

But despite those, Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is handling his time in the league with poise, and his team is backing him, especially on his 22nd birthday.

Happy Birthday, CJ7️⃣ 🎉 pic.twitter.com/XUPwr4eD8A

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 3, 2023

So far this season, Stroud has thrown for 1,212 yards and six touchdowns on 151 attempts — completing 62.3 percent of those. His ability to move in the pocket and air out the ball hasn't been overlooked, especially with a Texans receiving core that wasn't touted nearly as much as any other team in the league. 

But even without "superstar" wide receivers, Stroud has proven that his and their capabilities are more than enough to compete in the NFL. 

© Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

“I've been thinking about this for a long time,” Stroud said following the Texans' 30-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. “Y'all deserve to feel special. Y'all deserve to root the Texans on." 

Stroud's words, whether about Texans victories or his own potential, have also set himself apart as a leader. 

And now as a 22-year-old rookie, that’s more than impressive, though under DeMeco Ryans, it’s almost expected.