Zach Wilson gave Jets fans a Christmas weekend to remember, as the rookie set multiple records in Gang Green’s 26-21 win over the Jaguars on Sunday.
Two fans, Kensia Thelusma and her son Scott, were especially thankful for Wilson after the mother’s chance encounter with the quarterback at a New Jersey diner. Thelusma’s Christmas morning began with her waiting on Wilson and his family at the Ritz Diner in Livingston. It ended with Wilson gifting her two tickets to Sunday’s game, lots of hugs…and a few viral videos.
“It was a cool situation. I really enjoyed it,” Wilson, 22, said Sunday at a post-game press conference. “I thought it was a cool opportunity because there’s not many that pop up like that. We got to go to a little diner for a little brunch on Christmas morning and this awesome lady was working and she was doing a great job talking about her son playing football and how tough it was for her to be working on Christmas and stuff.”
Wilson said Thelusma found out later in the meal that he plays for the Jets. She told him Scott is a “Jets fan, like crazy,” and it didn’t take her long to reach her son via FaceTime. When it came time for Wilson to pay his bill, he mentioned that he could get Thelusma and Scott into Sunday’s game.
“I have two tickets,” Wilson said, as seen in video shared to social media by the athlete’s mother, Lisa Wilson, sparking a shocked reaction from the waitress.
“Stop lying,” Thelusma responded, only for Wilson to insist he was serious. Thelusma, in disbelief, then hugged Wilson before breaking down, jumping around the diner and calling her son again.
“He’s giving you tickets to go to the game tomorrow!” she screamed into her phone.
She wanted an autograph and picture of Zach Wilson for her son, and he gifted her two tickets to the Jets game today ❤️
(via lifeaccording2lisa/IG) pic.twitter.com/gEiUmol3Us
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 26, 2021
“She starts freaking out and calls her son and they’re having a good time,” Wilson said when asked to recall the moment. “She had briefly mentioned how she’s always wanted to get him tickets to a game and never had the opportunity to. So that was when I was like, ‘You know what, I think this would really help her and her family, being able to spend that time together.’ She was obviously working on Christmas, which isn’t fun.”
Thelusma later wrote in an Instagram post that Wilson made her son “the happiest young man ever.” “From the bottom of my heart I want to say thank you,” she wrote.
The Jets’ practice facility is located in nearby Florham Park.
Thelusma and Scott were treated to one of the best performances of Wilson’s young career. The 22-year-old’s 91 rushing yards, accentuated by a sizzling 52-yard touchdown run, were the most ever by a Jets quarterback in a single game. The touchdown run was also the longest ever by a Jets signal-caller.
Wilson added a fourth-quarter touchdown pass, which proved crucial in his efforts to beat fellow top-two pick Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars.
Wilson, who has endured an inconsistent rookie season, finished the Week 16 win 14-22 with 102 passing yards, zero turnovers and two total touchdowns. His biggest contribution, however, came off the field.
“It was just a good opportunity for me to make someone happy,” Wilson said of Thelusma. “It definitely makes me happy.”