Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson and quarterback C.J. Stroud have been working together since Stroud was in high school, first meeting at Elite 11 competition
No bail for you: Texas law allows judges to deny bailRead full article: Man dies in fatal collision on Fred Hartman Bridge COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - DECEMBER 20: Malachi Toney #10 of the Miami Hurricanes reacts after throwing an interception in the fourth quarter against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2025 College Football Playoff First Round Game at Kyle Field on December 20, 2025 in College Station, Texas.
‘A foundation setter’: Texas A&M players reflect after historic season ends with playoff loss to Miami Read full article: ‘A foundation setter’: Texas A&M players reflect after historic season ends with playoff loss to Miami Sydney Marquez of El Paso, 24, was last seen on December 11 in Houston. Texas EquuSearch has joined search efforts alongside the family and the Houston Police Department.was in high school in Rancho Cucamonga, California, he was an overlooked recruit at the time looking to establish himself as someone worthy of scholarship offers from elite college football programs.“It’s pretty cool, man,” Johnson told KPRC 2. “I never take my job, my situation that I’m in, my relationship with C.J. for granted. He’s a special young man, and I think we have a special relationship. Just to see him get better every week, to see his growth from then to now and just to know the potential that he has, I think the sky’s the limit. “Whatever is the best version of himself, we’re chasing that every single day to push him to there, He works really hard, he cares. The sky’s the limit for him.” Johnson, 37, has coached Stroud, a 24-year-old former Pro Bowl selection, second overall pick, two-time Heisman Trophy finalist and consensus All-American, for his first three NFL seasons.The former record-setting Texas A&M quarterback and Humble native has gone from Bill Walsh fellowships with the San Francisco 49ers and Colts to a full-time quality control coach with the Colts, an assistant quarterbacks coach with the Minnesota Vikings and the lead quarterbacks coach with his hometown NFL team since Stroud was drafted three years ago. “Me being a kid back then, being 16 years old, meeting him, and now being 24, it’s crazy,” Stroud said. “It’s almost ten years ago. It’s wild. Just to see not only my growth, but his and our relationship grow, he’s somebody who I consider a great friend and somebody I know I can call. I’ve seen him grow as a coach and see him have his fingerprint in our system, finally, after a couple years he’s able to put some input into plays. “I thought he’s done a great job of that. Coaching me on footwork, he’s a mechanical genius. He’s a guru when it comes to footwork and being centered in the ground, with your wrist, all that good stuff. I’m very grateful and happy to have him as a coach.” When Stroud wasn’t a well-known quarterback initially at Elite 11, he wound up outperforming his friend, Carolina Panthers quarterback and top overall pick Bryce Young. That caught the eyes of recruiters, including Ohio State coach Ryan Day.“Jerrod’s one thing for me was like, ‘Be confident,’” Stroud said. “At that time, I wasn’t really the highest recruit. I wasn’t who I would become. Jerrod is someone I looked up to. When he was like, ‘Man, you need to be more confident,’ it changed my life.”The overall improvement of Stroud and comfort level with offensive coordinator Nick Caley’s playbook has been on display during the past three weeks since recovering from a concussion. He’s coming off a game regarded by many, including Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, as one of the best performances of his career. Stroud completed 22 of 29 passes for 260 yards, a 75.9 completion percentage for three touchdowns and zero interceptions last Sunday during a 40-20 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Since his return from a concussion, Stroud has passed for a combined 749 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Especially over the past two weeks, including outplaying Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes as he was intercepted three times by the Texans’ top-ranked defense, Stroud has shown his ability to improvise and go off-script. When he eludes pressure by escaping the pocket, his eyes are downfield and he is capable of making difficult throws on the run. Stroud has exploited defenses’ vulnerability by throwing darts across the middle to catch them off guard. The creativity of Stroud’s game is a major factor for the Texans’ improving offense. “I think for talented players, that’s the biggest challenge, is, ‘When do I play on time? When is there an opportunity for me to go off schedule?’” Johnson said. “What I think is a huge strength of his is that athleticism, his ability to throw on the run. So, he’s kind of finding that sweet spot within our system of when it’s time to throw the ball away, when is the right time to take a sack. “When is the time when I’ve got space and time and opportunity to try to use my legs and make a play with my feet or find somebody to scramble drill? Every quarterback has to kind of fight that battle of where’s the opportunity for plays and where’s the discipline needed to just get to the next down. I think he’s doing a good job of that.” Johnson, 37, played quarterback six different NFL teams. He interviewed Monday for the Texans’ offensive coordinator job before they hired Caley as the replacement for former offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. Johnson interviewed last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots for offensive coordinator vacancies.“Jerrod has done a great job this year,” Ryans said. “I’ve definitely seen growth in him as a coach and how he’s done a better job of working with the quarterbacks. He’s given those guys a lot of pointers, a lot of tips, especially from him being a guy who played the position. “He’s coached the position, helped a lot of young guys throughout his career. I’m very pleased with Jerrod and excited to see his growth as a coach over this past year. I think he’s doing a great job.” Stroud is finding his rhythm since the concussion he suffered agains the Denver Broncos, rebuilding chemistry with his receivers. Especially Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins and veteran tight end Dalton Schultz, who are both coming off big games against the Cardinals. The offense has become more balanced with an upgraded running game causing defenses to respect play-action fakes. The Texans are averaging 26.7 points during this three-game stretch, ranking 11th in the NFL. They were averaging 21 points per game before Stroud returned to the starting lineup. “I think we’ve gotten better in all phases,” Stroud said. “I won’t say any specific area, but I do think in those specific areas that I touched on a couple weeks ago we got better in, as an offense. I think our defense is still playing great. So, putting up more points every week I think will help and just trying to execute at the highest level.” “We’re starting to roll at the right time. December is when you want to play your best ball and every game is important and every game is hard. Around the league, guys are hoping you lose and we’re hoping to win every game. During the past six weeks, quarterback play has been of paramount performance. When Stroud was sidelined, backup Davis Mills went undefeated in three starts. His signature moment was manufacturing a comeback win over the Jacksonville Jaguars as he scrambled for a touchdown. Overall, the Texans rank 14th in passing offense as Stroud and Mills have combined for 3,071 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions. “How they’re taking ownership of the offense, we’ve pushed since the spring, just trying to make sure every day we get a little bit better,” Johnson said. “And I think the more comfort they’ve got with the system, and the play on the field, the biggest thing I’m proud of is just taking care of the football. They’ve made smart decisions. We’ve put ourselves in a position to win, “I think Davis is special. I’ve sung his praises since I’ve been here. I think it’s something that you can’t take for granted. I think a lot of it has to do with his work ethic and his preparedness. It takes a lot of maturity to sit for those years and just kind of be behind the scenes and just kind of make sure he’s getting better. I would expect nothing less from Davis. He’s great for our room, and I’m glad he’s on our side.” Johnson emerged as a popular offensive coordinator candidates in the league before remaining with the Texans under an upgraded contract that included a higher salary two years ago. “I aspire, absolutely,” Johnson said. “I think every coach aspires to get to that point. The cool thing is that you don’t go in there without winning. It’s a team game. “I grew up playing, and I’m here to help the quarterbacks get better. If you do a good job, good things will happen. I pour into the players. I pour into the coaches, and that’s all that matters right now.” Stroud became the youngest quarterback to win a playoff game as a rookie, surpassing his childhood idol, Michael Vick. He began his career with an NFL record 191 passes without an interception, finished the season with 198 passes without an interception and finished with 4,108 yards in the regular season, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions. Stroud joined Tom Brady and Joe Montana as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to lead the league in passing yards per game and touchdown-to-interception ratio. After that hot start to his NFL career, Stroud’s statistics dipped last year as he was sacked a career-high 52 times. With better protection this season, he’s been sacked a career-low 23 times. His game is starting to come back to the precision and decisiveness of his first NFL season. “I think just his overall situational awareness and overall preparedness for thinking beyond every individual play,” Johnson said. “I think he’s taken a huge step, and that’s a big part of his growth.” A former record-setting Texas A&M quarterback who also played for the Aggies basketball team, Johnson embraces this opportunity as the Humble High School graduate coaches for his hometown team. “I see myself as a teacher,” Johnson said. “My biggest thing is I want to teach. Whatever I can do to teach and give them whatever they need, I try to be transparent and open and honest with them. I really want feedback from them. It’s a joy to coach them. Johnson finished his college career with a school-record 8,011 passing yards and 8,888 yards of total offense and also played on the Aggies basketball team. A second-team All-Big 12 selection, Johnson was the program’s all-time leader in attempts, completions, passing yards and touchdowns before Kellen Mond broke those records. Johnson is a former assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at St. Thomas High School in Houston.As the Texans’ quarterbacks coach, Johnson was tasked with a pivotal, plum assignment: developing and building the skills and knowledge of Stroud. After playing for his late father, Larry Johnson, in high school, excelling for the Aggies, then playing in the East-West Shrine Bowl all-star game and going undrafted, Johnson played quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Hartford Colonials, and Sacramento Mountain Lions.“It meant everything,” Johnson said. “My dad was a coach there, and a principal there. That’s our family roots. I wouldn’t be who I am today without the village of people who raised me in Humble, Texas. I’m forever indebted to Humble and I love my hometown and that’s the foundation of who I am as a person.” Coaching for his hometown team is emotionally significant for Johnson as he and his wife, Braidee, are the parents of a baby girl. Jersie Drew Johnson. “It’s really special, especially with my family, my wife Braidee and our little girl, for me to get the opportunity to do what I love in the city that I grew up in,” Johnson said. “It’s a dream come true. I’m really blessed. It’s an emotional thing to be around my family and have our family around. For us to start our family in my hometown is a godsend.” From high school to college and, now, in the NFL, Johnson has been able to live and compete in the state of Texas. “Me and my wife talk about things I’ve got to get better at is kind of being present,” Johnson said. “Since I’ve been with the Texans, every Sunday I take a deep breath, and I call it kind of smelling the roses and just appreciating getting to do what I love with people that I enjoy in the city that I love in my hometown. So I’m very blessed, and I don’t take it for granted. “For me to have those life moments, to share these moments with my family, my wife, my daughter, my mom, and even my brother. I have cousins who come to the games and everything. So, it truly is a family affair for us. We love the city of Houston, and we’re locals. It’s pretty cool to do what I love in the city, and I’m very appreciative of it.”Aaron Wilson is an award-winning Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and www.click2houston.com. He has covered the NFL since 1997, including previous stints for The Houston Chronicle and The Baltimore Sun. 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