Snoop Dogg says he felt like a “proud father” watching CJ Stroud’s history-making rookie season in the NFL.
The relationship between the Houston Texans quarterback, 22, and the rap icon, 52, began a decade ago when a pre-teen Stroud started playing in the Snoop Youth Football League, a nonprofit Snoop founded in 2005 to give inner-city kids a chance to play football.
Stroud — who honed his skills as part of the league’s Pomona Steelers when he was about 11 to 13 years old — led the Texans to the NFL divisional round this season, before losing to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.
“Now I’m so excited watching these games. I’m not even looking at winning,” Snoop said The Rich Eisen Show ahead of Saturday’s game.
All about CJ Stroud, the quarterback selected by the Houston Texans in 2023.
“I’m looking forward to the excitement of seeing these kids turn into grown men and play big roles on these teams,” That Doggfather added the rapper. “They are used to these bright lights because they were put in these positions as children.”
Snoop recalled that Stroud was “so laser focused” and spiritual.
“He’s so positive,” he said. “That’s what I like about him is he pushes a different narrative than a lot of other guys in the league. He pushes the real story of spiritual love and is just a voice of positivity.”
The 16-time Grammy nominee is currently experiencing a life imitating art star moment Underdogsa new movie premiering on Prime Video on January 26.
In the film, he plays former professional football star Jaycen “Two Js” Jennings, who does community service as a pee-wee football team coach.
All about CJ Stroud’s parents, Kimberly Stroud and Coleridge Bernard Stroud III
Explaining why he feels like a “proud father” to Stroud and other players who have come out of his youth league, Snoop said those athletes will always be his babies.
“Every kid that plays in my league is considered my baby because more than likely they come in as babies and leave as men,” he explained to Eisen. “So they can outgrow my lap, but they’ll never outgrow my heart, so they’ll be babies for me.”
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“Watching them do their thing makes me so proud, so happy,” Snoop added. “Shout out to them for being at their job and doing their job.”
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CJ Stroud on December 31st.
Carmen Mandato/Getty
Stroud, a former Ohio State University player, was selected by the Texans with the second overall pick during the 2023 NFL Draft in April.
As a rookie running back, Stroud finished the regular season with 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns. He threw 499 passes and completed 319 of them for 63.9 percent.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education