'Last Time That Happened!' How Jaguars Disrespect of C.J. Stroud Set Tone For Season

The Jacksonville Jaguars may have lit the fire under Houston Texans Rookie QB C.J. Stroud that guided his stellar rookie campaign.

Matt Galatzan | Feb 7, 2024

The Houston Texans won the NFL Draft last year, picking quarterback C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 pick.

In his first season with the team, Stroud would go on to have a historic campaign, throwing for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns with just five interceptions, while guiding Houston to an AFC South title - likely securing himself the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award along the way.

And according to Stroud, some perceived disrespect from his division rival Jacksonville Jaguars, may have been the spark he needed to put together such a dynamic season.

What 'disrespect is he referring to? Well apparently, Stroud felt as though the Jaguars treated him too much like a rookie.

"I had so much respect for Jacksonville," Stroud said during his appearance on the Pivot Podcast. "I they kinda came in like, ‘Oh, this a rookie quarterback.’ That was the last time that happened. We played the Steelers the week after. They didn't treat me like a rookie quarterback. The rest of the season I wasn't treated like a rookie quarterback. They would just blitz me, blitz me, blitz me. I would pick it apart."

Stroud would go on to take advantage of the Jaguars approach, throwing for 280 yards and two scores in the 37-17 Week 3 win.

Nine weeks later against Jacksonville, Stroud did it again, throwing for 304 yards and two more scores - albeit in a 24-21 loss that ostensibly ended on a missed field goal by Matt Ammendola.

Suffice it to say, Stroud was no mere rookie, shattering records and expectations along the way to a likely Rookie of the Year nod. Still, Stroud never cared about being the best rookie. Instead, he wanted to be the best player, period.

That wasn't my goal," Stroud said. "I wanted to be the best in the league... I want the MVP."

Published Feb 7, 2024

MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan the Editor-In-Chief of TexansDaily.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network. When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered. Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels. For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com