There is a trope in fiction that when a character cuts off their hair, it symbolizes a major change in their life or a moment of character development. There’s also the classic cliché of getting a new hairstyle after a bad breakup.
So when Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud unveiled a new hairstyle on Tuesday, it was hard not to immediately remember that he’s only a few weeks removed from a four-interception, season-ending performance against the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round.
Anyway, here’s his new look:
Stroud was a revelation in his rookie season, throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions across 15 games in his rookie season. But in the two years that have followed he’s thrown for 39 touchdowns and 20 interceptions and hasn’t hit the 4,000-yard mark again.
His regression has been a surprise, capped off by a performance to forget against the Pats. Stroud is only 24 and has plenty of time to turn things around, of course—perhaps a new haircut is the start of that transformation.