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 custom cleats on Sunday with “#REFORM” and “Free Pops” stitched on the side as a tribute to his incarcerated father.

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

Stroud and his father had not been in a relationship for years. His father has been in prison since Stroud was in high school and is currently incarcerated 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 at his post-game press conference.

He said, “Our criminal justice system is broken, and it's something I probably need to be a little more clear about because what he's going through is not right,” he said.

“He called me this week, and we started talking, and I'm praying for the situation and a reform, and the reform people are helping me a little bit.

“But I guess I just have to let it be known that it's not just my father's situation, it's that the entire 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 father – even though he may never see his son play in person.

“I pray to God that something can happen that he can get out and come to one of these games,” Stroud said last month. “I prayed a lot for him.”

More to follow.