Seahawks and Sergeant Provide New Signed Football After Parade Loss, Turning Disappointment Into Celebration
Updated (2 articles)
Parade Loss Sparks Viral Appeal and Community Mobilization Eight‑year‑old Antonio Rodrigues Jr. dropped a football signed by safety Josh Jobe and several teammates while walking more than 11 miles during Seattle’s Super Bowl championship parade on February 13, 2026 [2]. His mother’s Facebook post about the missing ball quickly spread among Seahawks fans, prompting widespread calls for its return [2]. Security retrieved the ball but handed it to the wrong individual, leaving the original souvenir unrecovered [2].
Sergeant Steven Cracraft Delivers Replacement Signed Ball and Jersey After seeing the online plea, First Sergeant Steven Cracraft of the 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade at Joint Base Lewis‑McChord arranged a surprise gift [2]. He presented Antonio Jr. with a new football signed by multiple players and a jersey bearing DK Metcalf’s signature, turning the loss into a fresh memory of community support [2]. Cracraft’s involvement highlighted the military’s engagement with local celebrations and added a personal touch to the replacement [2].
Seahawks Invite Family to VMA and Offer Additional Gifts Within days, the Seahawks organization, including safety Josh Jobe, invited the Rodrigues family to the Virginia Mason Athletic Center for a behind‑the‑scenes tour [1]. During the visit, Antonio Jr. received another signed football and an unexpected jersey, which he described as “better than going to Disneyland” [1]. Father Antonio Sr. called the experience “full‑circle redemption,” emphasizing the emotional turnaround from heartbreak to hero meeting [1].
Original Football Remains Missing While Celebration Continues Both reports confirm the first signed ball has not been recovered despite the family’s efforts [1][2]. Nevertheless, the combined actions of the sergeant and the Seahawks have become a defining moment of the Super Bowl festivities, illustrating how rapid community response can transform a disappointment into a lasting positive story [1][2].
Sources
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1.
King5: Seahawks Surprise Young Fan After Lost Signed Football: Details the Seahawks’ invitation to the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, the presentation of a new signed ball and jersey, and the child’s enthusiastic reaction, framing the event as a redemption narrative .
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2.
King5: Sergeant Gives New Signed Football to 8‑Year‑Old After Parade Loss: Focuses on Sergeant Steven Cracraft’s surprise gift of a replacement ball and DK Metcalf‑signed jersey after the family’s viral Facebook appeal, noting the original ball remains unrecovered .
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Timeline
Early Feb 2026 – Seattle celebrates the Seahawks’ Super Bowl championship with a citywide parade that draws tens of thousands of fans and creates the backdrop for a family’s memorable outing [1][2].
Feb 8, 2026 – Eight‑year‑old Antonio Rodrigues Jr. walks more than 11 miles along the parade, collects signatures from players including safety Josh Jobe and quarterback Sam Darnold, then drops the autographed football, which security retrieves and hands to the wrong person, leaving him devastated; his father, Antonio Rodrigues Sr., watches his son’s “saddest face ever” and says, “When your kid hurts, you hurt,” highlighting the family’s heartbreak [1][2].
Feb 9, 2026 – Antonio’s mother posts about the missing ball on Facebook; the plea spreads rapidly among Seahawks fans, generating a viral outpouring of support and attempts to locate the souvenir [2].
Feb 12, 2026 – First Sergeant Steven Cracraft, stationed at Joint Base Lewis‑McChord, sees the viral appeal and decides to surprise the family by arranging a new football signed by multiple Seahawks and a jersey signed by wide‑receiver DK Metcalf [2].
Feb 14, 2026 – Cracraft presents Antonio Jr. with the replacement signed football and jersey, turning the disappointment into a fresh memory and prompting the family to describe the day as “beautiful” despite the original ball’s loss [2].
Feb 19, 2026 – Seahawks officials invite the Rodrigues family to the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, where Antonio receives a new signed football and an unexpected jersey, declares the experience “better than going to Disneyland,” and his father calls the turnaround “full‑circle redemption,” framing the event as a perfect play for the family [1].