Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud wears customized prison reform cleats with ‘Free Pops’ stitched into them as a tribute to his father who is serving 38 years in prison

CJ Stroud wore customized cleats on Sunday with ‘#REFORM’ and ‘Free Pops’ stitched into the side as a tribute to his incarcerated father.

Coleridge Bernard Stroud III is currently serving a 38-year-to-life prison sentence after pleading guilty in 2015 to charges of misdemeanor sexual battery, robbery, kidnapping and carjacking, all relating to a drug-related incident.

Stroud and his father did not have a relationship for some years. His father has been in prison since Stroud was in middle school and is currently serving time at Folsom State Prison near Sacramento.

After a record-setting performance in Houston’s win over Tampa Bay last month, Stroud spoke about the need for prison reform in his post-game press conference.

He said: ‘Our criminal justice system isn’t right, and it’s something that I need to probably be a little more vocal about, because what he’s going through is not right,’ he said.

‘Free Pops’ was also stitched into them in tribute to his father who’s serving 38 years in prison

Last month Stroud admitted he wanted to be ‘more vocal’ about prison reform in the US

‘He called me this week, and we got to talk, and I’m praying for the situation and a reform, and the people with reform are helping me a little bit. 

‘But, I think just letting it be known that it’s not just my dad’s situation, but the whole criminal justice system is corrupt.’

During his successful first season in the NFL, Stroud has relied heavily on a strong support system consisting of his mother and siblings, his teammates, friends back home and his dad – even though he may never get to see his son play in person.

‘l’m praying to God that something can happen that he can get out and come to one of these games,’ Stroud said last month. ‘I’ve been praying for him a lot.’

More to follow.