C.J. Stroud breaks NFL record for most pass attempts without an interception to start career
Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is only in his fifth week as a starting QB in the NFL but he’s already etching his name in the record books. On Sunday, against the Atlanta Falcons, Stroud officially broke another record. This one, last set by Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, is for the most pass attempts without an interception to start his career.
Stroud hit 177 pass attempts without an interception in Week 5, marking an all-time high for a new NFL quarterback. Last week, he joined the elite company of Peyton Manning (2013), Tom Brady (2015-17), Drew Brees (2018), Patrick Mahomes (2018-19), and Aaron Rodgers (2020) as QBs with an average of 300 yards a game and no interceptions.
Stroud has thrown for 1,212 yards this season. The only rookie quarterback in NFL history who had more yards through four games was Cam Newton, the top pick of the 2011 draft. Newton, however, also had five interceptions.
Stroud wins over Texans teammates early
Of all the league’s rookie quarterbacks, Stroud has gotten off to the hottest start. On the field and behind the scenes with his teammates, Stroud is winning hearts and minds.
On the Pat McAfee Show this week, Stroud opened up about how he earned his teammates’ trust in order to assume a meaningful leadership role.
“It was a learning process for me, I definitely appreciated DeMeco (Ryans), he kept it real with me right when I got in, he told me, ‘I want you to be a leader but you have to earn it,’” Stroud said. “I’ve always wanted to earn stuff, never been given anything. I just wanted to build trust with my teammates and bond with guys, not only on the field and in the building, but off the field as well.
“So, I’ve had opportunities to bring my guys out to L.A. I’ve had guys over to my house, gone golfing, bowling, just little things that build that trust off the field so that when we get on the field we want to go to battle for each other.”
Though the Texans have won just two of four games so far, Stroud’s performances have only boosted his standing with his teammates.
“Definitely, when you’re preaching something or explaining something, it means more when the guy is doing it on the field, the proof is in the pudding…” Stroud said. “I think that has to do with being a good leader, you have to put it on the field.”
In four games, the former Ohio State standout has completed 94-of-his-151 pass attempts. He has 1,212 yards and six touchdowns with zero interceptions.
If Stroud maintains his current pace, it would be more than enough to pass Andrew Luck‘s rookie record.