Josh Dobbs has become one of the feel-good stories of the season with his play on the field, but his most recent actions off the field might have netted him his new biggest fan.
The quarterback and the Vikings gifted a young fan with alopecia an autographed Dobbs jersey in a heartwarming moment that has been in the making for the last few weeks.
Gregory, 7, was diagnosed with alopecia when he was around 1, according to his father, Greg, and was following Dobbs’ journey in the NFL with the Browns and Cardinals.
But when Dobbs, who also has alopecia, was traded to the Vikings at the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline, it became a sort of fate for Gregory.
While Gregory now lives in New Jersey, his paternal grandfather is a “big Vikings fan,” so he started to follow the team as well.
“Gregory has absorbed some of that and has been a big Justin Jefferson and Vikes fan [the] last few years,” his father told The Post in a message. “So when Dobbs was traded after the Kirk Cousins injury it was a perfect storm.”
After the trade, Greg saw on X that a Vikings Fanatics rep was filling out the Minnesota team store with Dobbs jerseys and thought about getting one for Gregory for Christmas.
The only problem was that the jersey wasn’t available yet online, but Greg was put in touch with a Vikings merchandise manager, who then said the team would send Gregory a package — which led to the special delivery.
“I assumed maybe a Dobbs jersey,” Greg told The Post, “but the personal touch and autograph is what I feel meant the most.”
Since Jaren Hall went down with an injury two weeks ago, Dobbs has been thrust into the spotlight and commanded Minnesota to two straight wins, throwing for 426 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.
Aside from his on-field success, Dobbs has been an advocate for those in the alopecia community and helped spread awareness, including earlier this year when he and a Cardinals cheerleader who also has alopecia shared their own journeys with the autoimmune disease.
Between Dobbs’ advocacy and play on the field, it’s meant a lot to Gregory and his dad.
“It gives hope,” Greg told The Post. “[Gregory] struggles at times, very shy. But seeing someone succeed at the highest level and embracing the alopecia, I can only imagine what that does for Greg on the inside.”
Though the Vikings don’t make a trip to the East Coast for the rest of the regular season, if there’s a postseason run in them, Dobbs’ newest fan might be in attendance.
“If they make the playoffs it’s definitely something that can be in the cards,” Greg said.
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