Jordan Love, others send gifts to a young Packers fan who was denied football at the 49ers party

GREEN BAY (WLUK) — Support is pouring in for a young Packers fan who was denied an autographed football he won at a 49ers party last weekend.

Cell phone video showing 14-year-old Joseph De La Rosa being denied a football signed by Christian McCaffrey has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook.

The incident occurred during a party hosted by the 49ers fan organization at the bar on Holmgren Way before the team’s game against the Packers at Lambeau Field. Organizers chose De La Rosa’s name to win the ball, but settled on another name, a 49ers fan, after seeing De La Rosa wearing Packers gear.

As FOX 11 told you Monday, the 49ers attempted to remedy the situation by sending an autographed helmet from another player. But that wasn’t enough for some people who are now taking matters into their own hands.

De La Rosa, an eighth-grader at Franklin Middle School in Green Bay, said the experience left him embarrassed and ashamed.

“It tugged at my heartstrings,” said Austin Wilson, a 49ers fan from Folsom, California. “What I saw was that there was pretty unanimous agreement – both among 49ers fans and Packers fans – that what happened to Joseph just wasn’t right.”

Wilson saw our story earlier this week about what happened, including the fact that the 49ers sent De La Rosa a helmet signed by Talanoa Hufanga as a consolation prize for missing the McCaffrey ball.

“If you look at it, the competition has already dropped the ball – no pun intended,” Wilson said. “I think the 49ers failed to deliver from my perspective. So who else would do anything, right? So I decided to be more action-oriented. I reached out to FOX 11 News and they put me in touch with you (Reporter Ben Krumholz) and it just went from there.”

Wilson sent De La Rosa an autographed McCaffrey football he purchased online and provided FOX 11 with the order confirmation. Another person from De Pere did the same thing.

“I was excited and couldn’t believe he actually cared and wanted to send it to me,” De La Rosa said.

FOX 11 asked what he planned to do with the two footballs.

“I’ll probably just keep her,” De La Rosa said. “Keep her in my room.”

The soccer balls aren’t the only things that will be new in his room. Packers quarterback Jordan Love had someone bring De La Rosa an autographed jersey.

“I can’t believe Jordan Love heard it,” De La Rosa said. “I will frame it in my room and keep it for life.”

The gifts are a special reminder that much good can come from an unfortunate situation.

“I’m really grateful for everyone’s help and support,” De La Rosa said. “I hope this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”