Former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Kurt Warner says CJ Stroud has taken a step backward since his standout rookie year with the Houston Texans, arguing the young passer no longer shows the same awareness and poise that once set him apart.
Kurt Warner, who guided the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl victory in 2000, shared his evaluation of CJ Stroud.
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The Hall of Famer said he has seen worrying patterns in Stroud’s performances and questioned the quarterback’s decision-making in key moments.
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Kurt Warner highlights CJ Stroud’s struggles under pressure
Kurt Warner focused on how CJ Stroud has handled defensive pressure, pointing to lapses in awareness that have led to unnecessary mistakes.
The former Super Bowl MVP told Rich Eisen that those tendencies have appeared repeatedly throughout the 2025 season from CJ Stroud.
“Unfortunately, I’ve seen a lot of that this year,” Warner said. “We talked about it a little bit in the game we did a couple weeks ago — just the pressure situations and seeming not to be aware of what’s going on around him.”
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“I called the game on Monday night against the Steelers and broke it down on our show, just how many times he made a bad play worse in that Pittsburgh game…”
“Those were the things that really left me shaking my head a lot with CJ this year — just the times he didn’t seem aware of what was happening around him.”
Warner added that Stroud’s difficulties extend beyond mechanical issues or footwork, noting that the problem appears deeper than physical execution.
Kurt Warner urges CJ Stroud to rediscover rookie-year form
Kurt Warner praised CJ Stroud’s debut campaign, calling it one of the best rookie seasons he had seen from any young quarterback.
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He said Stroud now needs to regain the confidence and field command that defined his early success in Houston.
“When he was a rookie, I thought he played like a top-five quarterback in the league,” Warner said. “He was that good. I was so excited — I thought, ‘My gosh, this guy could be one of those special players.’ But in the last two years, I feel like he’s really regressed.”
Warner said the key for Stroud lies in identifying what has changed since his first season, whether it be decision speed, confidence, or system fit.
He believes that self-assessment will determine how quickly the Texans’ offense can regain consistency.
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The remarks arrive as the Texans face rising expectations following back-to-back playoff pushes. While Warner remains optimistic about Stroud’s long-term potential, his analysis highlights how vital 2026 could be for the young quarterback’s development.
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