Former Detroit Lions quarterback Charlie Batch unexpectedly found himself trending on social media Sunday after becoming the punchline of a viral joke aimed at another NFL passer.

Batch, who started briefly for the Lions in the late 1990s before carving out a long career as a reliable backup, was referenced in a post criticizing Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. The comment came from X user CuffsTheLegend, a Fox Sports Radio co-host, who wrote that Stroud was essentially “Charlie Batch with Bob Marley braids” after Stroud threw four interceptions in the first half of an AFC Divisional Playoff game.

Batch noticed the remark and responded with humor, posting, “How did I catch a stray in this? Lol.” His reply quickly took off, accumulating roughly 1.8 million views within 18 hours.

Batch played four seasons in Detroit from 1998 through 2001. He recorded winning records in two of his first three years as a starter, but his tenure ended poorly. During the 2001 season, he went winless in nine starts and ultimately lost his job. Overall, Batch compiled a 19–27 record with the Lions, throwing 49 touchdown passes and 40 interceptions across 48 games.

Despite the joke, the statistical comparison between Batch and Stroud doesn’t quite hold up. Over 81 career appearances, Batch threw three interceptions in a game on four occasions, but he never threw four picks in a single contest—much less in one half.

Stroud’s rough outing came against the New England Patriots, where his four interceptions helped put the Texans in an 11-point deficit at halftime. During the 2025 regular season, Stroud had only eight interceptions across 14 games. However, in two playoff appearances, that number jumped to five.

Entering his fourth NFL season, Stroud is likely to face increased scrutiny, but unlike Batch, he entered the league as a top-tier prospect, having been selected second overall in the draft. Houston is expected to continue building around him and give him the chance to rebound from the disappointing postseason performance.

While Batch never fully met expectations as Detroit’s franchise quarterback, his career ended on a far more positive note. He became a dependable backup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, contributing to a Super Bowl-winning roster in 2005 and remaining with the organization through the 2012 season. Although he was injured during the 2008 championship run, he was still part of the team.

Across his time in Pittsburgh, Batch started nine games and posted a 6–3 record, solidifying his reputation as a valuable veteran presence rather than the caricature implied by the viral joke.