Texans QB C.J. Stroud Gifts Purple Heart Veteran Tickets to Super Bowl

Published: January 30, 2024

Texans QB C.J. Stroud Gifts Purple Heart Veteran Tickets to Super Bowl

By Movieguide® Contributor

Despite being knocked out of the playoffs, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud gifted a Purple Heart recipient a trip to Super Bowl LVIII.

“Coming from a military family has helped shape me into the man I am today – seeing firsthand the sacrifice required. Thanks to ⁦@USAA & ⁦@AFA_Air_Space I’m sending @USMC vet SGT Craig Mazeska and his son to #SuperBowlLVIII in Las Vegas! #SaluteToService,” Stroud posted on X.

#ad Coming from a military family has helped shape me into the man I am today – seeing firsthand the sacrifice required. Thanks to ⁦@USAA⁩ & ⁦@AFA_Air_Space⁩ I’m sending ⁦@USMC⁩ vet SGT Craig Mazeska and his son to #SuperBowlLVIII in Las Vegas! #SaluteToService pic.twitter.com/Gbp6xjt2eZ

— CJ Stroud (@CJ7STROUD) January 25, 2024

“Beyond football, my family is one of the most influential parts of my life, and I especially appreciate the lessons learned from my loved ones who have served in the military,” Stroud commented. “Like some in my family, Marine Corps veteran Sergeant Craig Mazeska selflessly served our country, so I’m honored to join USAA and the Air & Space Forces Association to send Sergeant Mazeska and his son to the Super Bowl in Las Vegas, where I look forward to meeting them.”

Per Click 2 Houston, “Mazeska served from 1988 to 1994, including overseas deployments in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq breaching walls, tank traps, minefields and military bunkers during Operation Desert Storm and the Gulf War. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal and Unit Citation.”

In an interview with ABC 13, Mazeska talked about his life after the military.

“My first thought goes back to all the many others – those that didn’t come home,” he began. “I, unfortunately, do spend quite a bit of time laying down. I can’t get out of bed for periods of time. But there are those that are much worse off than I am, and those that have already moved on as a result of similar exposures and things from serving overseas. My son and my family have seen me struggle and be in a lot of pain through periods of time over the years. I feel as if this is a way to get some cool points and reward them to a certain degree.”

“I feel like it’s a dream, and I’m waiting for someone to wake me up,” Mazeska added of Stroud’s gift.

Movieguide® recently reported:

Despite missing the chance to play in the Super Bowl, Stroud said he’s relying on his faith and gave God the glory for his success this season.

“It’s what I lean on through thick and thin,” he said of his faith. “I know I’m upset right now, but I’m really just blessed looking back on this year, this opportunity we had today to play in front of millions of people. I’m just really grateful to God on all the opportunities He’s blessed me with.”

“I’m just gonna lean on Him, and I know that this isn’t the end for me,” he added. “It’s a lot of more football for me to play, and I’m just excited for that. And I’m super blessed with the guys who I lined up with every week this year. And I’m just really thankful to God on how much He’s brought me from – I can go all the way to when I was a kid to college to Week 1 to now. I’ve grown as a person and as a man of God in a lot of different ways. I’m just really blessed for that.”