AUSTIN (KXAN) – Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud made a stop in Austin during the offseason at the C4 Nutrabolt headquarters, where he filmed a video for C4 Energy.
The 23-year-old, who played college football at Ohio State and now stands as one of the NFL’s most promising young quarterbacks, said his partnership with the energy brand goes back to his college days.
“C4 has been a partner of mine since I was in college, and it was something that I just believed in,” Stroud said.
The exclusive athlete and CEO-focused gym features a basketball court, boxing ring, sauna, ice baths, and every equipment and every weight a gym needs. Some of the professional athletes that hit the gym floor include former Texas Longhorns football player Bijan Robinson, who is now a running back with the Atlanta Falcons.
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Bijan Robinson and CJ Stroud spend time working out at Nutrabolt Headquarters in Austin (Photo C4 Energy) -
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Though raised in California, Stroud has spent plenty of time in Texas, including Austin.
“My agent lives here, and on top of that, he does an elite week where he brings all his players that he has. He does a charity event here in Austin. The city is cool. I like the hills, the lakes and the nature side of Texas.”
His go-to spots in the city?
“Here in Austin, I gotta go downtown to The Guest House, and the lakes,” the quarterback said.
Now in his third season with the Houston Texans, Stroud said the city has grown on him.
“I love Houston. It took some time to get used to it, but now it feels like a second home, and I’m grateful,” he said. “It’s cool to be a part of the rebuild.”
Leaning on faith and mentorship
Faith, Stroud said, continues to be a cornerstone of his personal and professional growth.
“For me, it’s probably been the most growth I’ve seen in myself, my relationship with God and my faith, and I’ve been able to apply it on and off the field. There’s a lot of things in the Bible that I can relate to. It’s the game plan of life… without God, I’m nothing,” Stroud said.
Mentorship is another value he holds close.
“I love to be poured into and I love to pour out. It’s very important that we’re sharing life experiences. I think the best thing we can do is communicate, and as a people stop judging one another and show more love,” Stroud said.
Stroud also makes a point to guide younger athletes, especially quarterbacks.
“In this day and age, in social media, it seems like everything is perfect. I tell them it’s not what it seems, and failure is good. I’ve learned my best lessons from my failure. You know, ‘Ls’ are really only losses when you don’t learn from them,” Stroud said.
His advice for aspiring athletes:
“Don’t compare yourself to anybody. Be yourself. Don’t go on social media thinking that this person is who they are, because everything’s a facade. You really should just grind on your goals and what you have and focus on that,” Stroud said.
Looking ahead
Heading into the new season, Stroud said his focus is simple:
“Just to be myself. I know that’s cliché, but it’s really just to focus on what I like. The better I can be for myself, the better I can pour out on others,” he said.
And as for his partnership with C4, Stroud said it continues to fuel his day-to-day.
“I love what they’re doing, and how they work in the community,” he said. “I’m very blessed, honored to be a part of that.”
Stroud and the Texans lost their first game of the 2025 season 14-9 to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
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