Since their meeting at midfield in 2024, the careers of C.J. Stroud and Caleb Williams have gone in radically different directions.In Week 2 of the 2024 season, the Houston Texans beat the Chicago Bears 19-13 in what was the second start of Williams’ rookie season having been selected first overall in April’s draft.Stroud offered Williams advice in a now infamous postgame momentGettyStroud was the reigning Rookie of the Year at the time – having been taken second overall in 2023 – and took a moment postgame to offer his counterpart some wisdom.He told Williams ‘good job out there’ and to ‘stop taking those hits’ after Chicago’s signal caller was sacked seven times in the 19-13 loss.The moment instantly went viral, and Stroud had to later claim that he wasn’t trying to ‘little bro’ his fellow quarterback.Dak Prescott gives C.J. Stroud ‘little bro’ momentWhile Williams struggled in his rookie year, the No. 1 pick went on to explode in 2025, setting the team’s single-season passing record en route to securing their first playoff victory in 15 seasons.Stroud set very high expectations coming off his Rookie of the Year season and was once touted as a quarterback who could reset the market at $225 million.However, Stroud’s form has since fluctuated, throwing for a combined 6,768 yards, 39 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions across 2024 and 2025.While Stroud has started the biggest season of his career well, the Texans have not, as they currently sit 0-4.Houston fumbled two separate 10-point leads and allowed 28 points in the second half to lose to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.At midfield following the final whistle, Stroud and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott shared an eerily similar exchange.“Shake that s*** off, man. Shake it off,” Prescott told Stroud.Prescott gave Stroud a taste of his own medicine with a ‘lil bro’ momentGettyIt’s the first time the Texans have started 0-4 since 2020Getty“Go get some wins, bro. Get some wins going, brother.”Stroud attempting to be an up-lifting presence for the TexansLast year, the Texans started 0-3 and had a fierce turnaround towards the playoffs, and in 2023, they started 0-2 and had the same result.While fingers can be pointed at the offense, the defense is the most unforeseen downgrade thus far.The unit allowed 34 points to the Cowboys and 36 against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. For the record, no one scored over 30 against them in 2025.Through these early-season struggles, Stroud has chosen not to point fingers, instead be the source of inspiration for a turnaround.“I always kind of try to give nuts and pieces just on, really, where we need to go as a team,” Stroud said.Amid the Texans tough start, Stroud has thrown for 1,141 yards and 5 touchdownsGetty“So, I’m always trying to give guys just motivation and letting them know. I think when I say things, it goes a long way. “So, I always am very careful with my words, but also try to speak life into people in a world that’s negative and just always–usually, more times than not–trying to tell you how bad you are.”