Indeed, Stroud and Young share an odd symbiosis. It stretches all the way back to their earliest formative years growing up in the greater Los Angeles area. They originally met as elementary school kids playing in AAU and travel basketball leagues. Now, at 12 and 13 years old, their work started on the court. His friendship with Fernandez flourished on the basketball court. It kept pumping on the football field, including where they both played in the Snoop Youth Football League.
Stroud, playing with the Pomona Valley Steelers, achieved significant success by leading his team to victory at the Snoop Youth League Nationals. Meanwhile, Young represented the Inland Empire Ducks, a team led by president Keefe Pierson, who recalls the excitement of those formative years.
They’re always going to be linked, Pierson said, reflecting on their enduring rivalry. It’s never going to not be a discussion between which is superior. It’s a healthy competition.
It came on the heels of an epic battle between Young and Stroud in 2015. Young won the battle, tossing three touchdown passes while Stroud struggled, tossing two picks in the game. That first meeting would prove pivotal to each of their careers. Beyond doubling their reach, it ignited a friendly competition that continues to fire up the partnership.
In the years since then, the two players have gone in opposite directions on their football journeys. Stroud didn’t just join a more competitive team—he became the most immediately productive QB after the NFL Draft. In doing so, he claimed the honor of Offensive Rookie of the Year. On the other hand, Young’s introduction to the professional game was a bumpy one. He had a very rocky go, posting a record that’s historically bad for a starting QB, before recovering somewhat in the season’s finale.
Even as they advanced in their respective careers, Stroud and Young kept in touch. Still, through constant communication with one another, they were able to often reconvene for events. Perhaps the greatest highlight was their recent convening last summer in New York City. Craig Young, Bryce’s father, noted how Stroud reached out with “positive words” during Bryce’s challenging rookie season, illustrating their supportive friendship.
C.J. Stroud reflected on their relationship, stating, “I’ve seen the dog in [Young] that he has, and a lot of people haven’t seen. I know he dealt with some frustrations. It’s good that we go through these ups and to refocus and tackle what’s important.”
Their journeys are headed in exciting directions. Guess who the Texans will again face in their 2027 regular season home opener… the Carolina Panthers! Both players have taken their competitive spirits into adulthood, as evidenced by on-the-field performances.
Stroud’s impressive stature at 6-foot-3 helped him rise to the top of the QB class. He was never beaten, with a dazzling record of 6-0 in high school and college. Young was only about 5-foot-9 in their 2015 duel, but he’s only added an inch to that height since. Regardless, he still shows off what makes him one of the best signal-callers in the game.
Young noted, “Well, we play very differently. He’s more of a shooter. I’m more of an on-ball type of guy.” This difference in distinction emphasizes not only their contrasting styles of play but the different journeys they’ve both experienced as athletes.
Both quarterbacks are defining their respective paths in the NFL. They know what it means to live in the fishbowl as the most public high-impact position on the field. Craig Young emphasized this shared experience when he said, “If the pundits and media want to do the comparisons, that’s fine. We absolutely root for each other.”
Stroud echoed similar sentiments regarding their relationship, stating, “We don’t really make it a big deal. I think that’s for y’all.”
Pierson summarized their bond well when he remarked on their potential future accolades: “In 15 years, you’re still going to be writing the story of who is the better quarterback. It would be dope if they went into the Hall of Fame the same year.”
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