Jefferson grinned ear-to-ear when he saw his cleats for the first time, picking them up and turning them over in his hands to admire the autographs hand-painted in white, each one unique, on an airbrushed gray background. Vikings Purple laces complemented the design.
“Oh, these are tough with the signatures,” he said, grinning.
Jefferson’s smile softened, hinting at a moment of emotion as he carefully read over each name.
“These are fire,” he reiterated with a nod.
It’s been two months since Jefferson hosted the young people, who ranged from 5 to 18 years old and have faced significant medical challenges, at a Twin Cities Air Reserve hangar.
Jefferson participated in a Q&A moderated by Sunday Night Football’s Maria Taylor, offering inspiration to the guests of honor, and then spent an additional two hours connecting and creating intentional memories.
The young men and their families also attended the Vikings-Falcons game the following day, after which a grateful Jefferson stopped by their turf-level suite and reconnected.
“Truly once-in-a-lifetime,” Fast said of the weekend.