But Stroud, who was drafted in the first round out of Ohio State, said football isn’t his only focus.

“A lot of people don’t get to live the life I do. It’s hard – it’s hard, but it’s a privilege,” he said at a recent news conference. “And I’m blessed enough to wake up every day and to walk, to talk, to smell to, to interact with people, to play football. These are all things we take for granted from a day-to-day basis. But I try to do my best to thank God through all that because His grace and His mercy; He laid His life on the cross for us – I really believe that. This is bigger than just ball. And if I have to use football for my purpose to spread the gospel and the life of Jesus Christ, then I’ll do that. And I think that’s what God wants,” Stroud asserted.

“But at the same time I want to win too,” he added, smiling.

The 6-foot-3 Stroud was one of the top quarterbacks in college, finishing third in Heisman voting as a senior while leading the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff. He was the second pick overall in the 2023 NFL draft. His 384 passing yards in week two are the most by an Ohio State QB in NFL history.

On Sunday, Stroud credited God for his talent and added, “you have to meet Him halfway with your hard work.”

“I think just those hard losses I took in college – the hard losses we took those two weeks (with Houston), the wins I’ve won –I know God has taught me what it takes to be successful in this game of football. And it’s a blessing,” he said after his first NFL victory. “… I’m blessed enough to have a team that will continue to fight and it’s a blessing to have guys around you to do that.”

Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Julio Aguilar/Stringer