When the Houston Texans and the Carolina Panthers meet this week, it will be a matchup between the 2023 NFL Draft’s top-two picks with former No. 2 overall pick C.J. Stroud of the Texans taking on No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and the Panthers. But even though the two will be competitors on the field, it sounds like they have a strong relationship off the field.
During his press conference this week, C.J. Stroud referred to Bryce Young as his “brother,” revealing that they have been close friends for a long time.
“That’s my brother, man,” Stroud said in his Wednesday press conference. “Someone I have a lot of respect for — known him since like middle school. Got really close, probably after high school, and [I’m] always rooting for him. I know he’s always rooting for me.”
Obviously, both are now beginning their NFL careers, and Stroud said that it’s “really cool” to be able to face off against his friend in the NFL.
“It’s a blessing to just know that we are from the same area — grew up knowing each other and then our parents know each other,” Stroud said. “Our moms are really close. Our dads know each other.
“It’s cool just to see somebody just as their journey has gone from high school to college to now into the league. It’s a blessing to have a brother like that to go through the same type of struggle, same type of pressures — the things like that. We talk a lot about that stuff in the offseason and things like that, so it’s a blessing to have someone like that in my life.”
We’ll have to see how both players perform on Sunday.
