Nick Caley: C.J. Stroud showed "a lot of progress" in 2025 and it's continuing into 2026

The end of C.J. Stroud's 2025 campaign was defined by a season-ending game that included four interceptions, a moment that shaped much of the offseason narrative around the young quarterback. Still, Houston Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley pushed back on the idea that the 2025 season was a step back, saying he saw "a lot of progress" from Stroud and that work has continued into 2026.

#Caley's assessment

Caley framed the quarterback's year as one of development rather than derailment. While the playoff performance drew headlines and criticism, the offensive staff has viewed the broader arc of Stroud's season as evidence of growth. The coordinator's public comments indicate that coaches believe the improvements made in 2025 are not finished and are carrying forward into the current offseason.

#What it means for the Texans

An endorsement from an offensive coordinator matters more than spin: it shapes play design, practice emphasis and how the staff approaches quarterback development. Caley's message suggests the Texans' coaching room remains invested in Stroud's trajectory and plans to build on return-to-work momentum as the team moves toward OTAs and training camp.

For Stroud, the path forward is straightforward but exacting: carry the progress noted by coaches into the routines and reps that define a season. The acknowledgement of improvement doesn't erase the playoff mistakes, but it reframes them as part of a larger developmental timeline rather than a definitive judgment on his ceiling.

As Texans fans and league observers look to 2026, Caley's confidence gives the organization a narrative of upward movement rather than reset. The coming weeks of offseason work and the fall's training camp will offer clearer evidence of whether the progress Caley highlighted translates into more consistent results when the regular season arrives.

Source: NFL.com reporting by Nick Shook