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 customized cleats on Sunday with '#REFORM' and 'Free Pops' stitched into the side as a tribute to his incarcerated father.

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

Stroud's father has been in prison since Stroud was in middle school and is serving his sentence at Folsom State Prison near Sacramento.

The rookie quarterback chose to shine a spotlight on prison reform as part of the NFL's 'My Cause My Cleats'. 

During Weeks 13 & 14, players are wearing customized cleats in honor of causes they have chosen to support and Stroud went for black and gold with white laces.

After a record-setting performance in Houston's win over Tampa Bay last month, Stroud spoke about the need for prison reform in his post-game press conference.

He said: 'Our criminal justice system isn't right, and it's something that I need to probably be a little more vocal about, because what he's going through is not right,' he said.

'He called me this week, and we got to talk, and I'm praying for the situation and a reform, and the people with reform are helping me a little bit. 

'But, I think just letting it be known that it's not just my dad's situation, but the whole 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 dad - even though he may never get to see his son play in person.

'l'm praying to God that something can happen that he can get out and come to one of these games,' Stroud said last month. 'I've been praying for him a lot.'

Stroud's rookie deal is a four-year fully guaranteed contract worth a total of $36.3million, of which $23.38m was a signing bonus.

He has led the improving Texans to a 6-5 record this season after the former Ohio State quarterback was taken with the second overall pick in this year's draft.

Stroud has thrown for 3,266 yards and 19 touchdowns with five interceptions.