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Houston Texans chair and chief executive officer Cal McNair greets C.J. Stroud #7 after a game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Houston Texans owner Cal McNair is very involved with the team, and that includes quarterback C.J. Stroud. Stroud has been a lightning rod for criticism following a poor postseason showing, and McNair has weighed in on where the organization stands.
The former second overall pick is extension-eligible this offseason, but he is not expected to reach a long-term deal with the Texans, at least not yet.
That adds to the gravity of McNair’s recent comments.
C.J. Stroud Gets Strong Words From Texans Owner
GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans looks to pass during a game against the Indianapolis Colts.
McNair spoke with reporters at the owners meeting in Arizona, and he fielded a question about Stroud’s long-term future with the Texans. McNair avoided divulging any specific information one way or the other.
However, the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander noted they did offer support for.
“We’re totally behind him,” McNair said, per Alexander on April 1. “He’s totally bought into being our quarterback and all that entails.
McNair continued, but spoke in a more general sense, saying, “We all want to get better every year. He’s doing that. We’re doing that. Everyone is doing that in the organization. Everybody is trying to get better every day.”
He also told KPRC’s Aaron Wilson that he hopes to have Stroud around for a “long, long time.”
The statement was made in response to a question about Stroud and draft classmate Will Anderson Jr., whom the Texans selected third overall in 2023.
PHOENIX — #Texans Cal McNair and Hannah McNair on potential long-term deals for Will Anderson Jr., C.J. Stroud: ‘Exciting, really good players, we’ll hope to have them around a long, long time. .. It’s a good problem to have when you have so many guys you want to keep under
Anderson is expected to at least get consideration for a blockbuster new contract, coming off his second Pro Bowl and first First Team All-Pro selection in 2025. Stroud’s future is less certain, with the Texans expressing support, but also stopping short of committing to him long-term.
“Stroud, who threw a career-high 12 interceptions in 2024 and a career-low 19 touchdowns in 2025, has not played good enough the past two seasons for a team that had the No. 6 defense in 2024 and the No. 1 defense in 2025,” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wrote on April 1 in reporting on McNair’s comments.
C.J. Stroud has History With Cal McNair
GettyHouston Texans owner Cal McNair looks on against the Buffalo Bills.
The lack of commitment to Stroud, including from McNair, could signal that the organization is poised to pivot if need be. But it is more likely just keeping in line with how the Texans have chosen to handle contract talks in the past, i.e., in private.
Moreover, McNair and Stroud have a unique history relative to most other players on the team, if not around the league.
There was the infamous missed high five that led to an entire produced package for a do-over.
Stroud and McNair, along with several other Texans players, also attended a Luke Combs concert in August 2024. The support Stroud has received has been consistent, even when it falls short of addressing his long-term future.
The Texans are expected to pick up Stroud’s fifth-year option. That keeps him under team control through 2027, giving both sides more time to sort out the QB’s long-term future.
Everyone, including Stroud, has said they want it to be with the Texans.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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