Texans rookie CJ Stroud’s cleats advocate for prison reform as father serves lengthy sentence

 Coleridge Stroud III is serving a sentence of 38 years to life at Folsom State Prison

Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud's cleats delivered a message that hit close to home when they defeated the Denver Broncos at home on Sunday afternoon.

Through the NFL's "My Cause My Cleats" initiative, which allows players to wear cleats to break the normal team uniform code for something they want to advocate for, Stroud had two pairs of cleats that went toward prison reform. Used to point.

When he took the field at Houston's NRG Stadium for his pre-game warmups, he wore black and gold cleats with a large hashtag reading "#REFORM", which calls for prison reform.

Why Stroud decided to use them for his cleats Point, the second pair he wore for the game; “Free Pops” was seen written on the side of them.

Coleridge Stroud III has been in prison since his son was in middle school as he serves a 38-year-to-life sentence after pleading guilty to carjacking, kidnapping and robbery charges in a drug-related incident in 2016. He is currently serving his sentence at Folsom State Prison near Sacramento.

TEXANS' CJ STROUD TALKS PRISON REFORM AMID DAD'S INCARCERATION: ‘CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS CORRUPT’

Stroud talked about his father's condition earlier this season and how it affected him.

"What I'm struggling with is still trying to be a family man, still helping out and still being a football player and doing my job," Stroud said in early November. "roughing it."

While discussing his father, Stroud also talked about prison reform.

Placeholder "Our criminal justice system is not perfect, and it's something that I probably need to be a little more vocal about, because what he's going through is not perfect," C.J. Stroud said. “He called me this week, and we talked, and I'm praying for the situation and for recovery, and the recovery people are helping me a little bit.

"But, I think it just needs to be said that it's not just my father's situation, but the entire criminal justice system is corrupt."