NFL Player Delivers New Ball, Priceless Memory For Toms River Boy

TOMS RIVER, NJ — When Joey Cirillo's autographed football went missing at Friday's Toms River North football game, hopes were whoever wound up with it would realize it was special and return it.

On Sunday, however, the 10-year-old Toms River boy not only received an autographed football to replace the one that's lost, he and his family received a memory that will stay with them forever.

Jonathan Casillas, the NFL player who autographed the football for Joey in August, drove down to Toms River to visit on Sunday, playing catch with Joey and signing a new football for Joey at the Cirillos' home.

Casillas, who played linebacker for the New Orleans Saints, the Tampa Bay Bucanneers, the New England Patriots and, from 2015 to 2017, for the New York Giants, came down after learning about the missing football and of how upset Joey was at losing his prized football.

Joey had taken the football with him constantly since mid-August, when Casillas autographed the ball and spent some time with the Cirillos following a USA Football tackling camp at Met Life Stadium. And Joey had it with him Friday night at the Toms River North game, throwing it around with friends and cousins shortly before halftime. That is, until the ball disappeared into the bleachers.

A search by Joey's family and Toms River police officers did not turn it up, and on Saturday Erica Cirillo put up a plea for its return on Facebook. Patch shared the information, and a number of people saw it, Erica said, including one of the Cirillos' cousins, who had worked with Casillas at a camp for children with cancer and contacted the player.

Bob Salomon, a local author from Howell who wrote "Beyond the Laces," which promotes positive behaviors and sportsmanship, also saw the article and contacted Casillas. Salomon and Stephen Calvanese, the family cousin, then became the go-betweens for Casillas to surprise Joey.

Salomon called when Casillas was en route to make sure the family was home, Erica said.

"Joey saw the car pull up but didn't know who was in it," Erica Cirillo said. "When he realized who it was, he was shocked." In the video, you can hear the surprise in Joey's voice.

"When he walked in he goes to Leigha (Joey's twin), 'I remember you and your family,' " she said. Casillas, who had signed the football for Joey and signed Leigha's wheelchair as well at the camp, "was the most humble, down-to-earth person ever" during Sunday's visit, Erica Cirillo said.

Casillas spent almost two hours at the Cirillos' home, playing catch with Joey and talking with him and the family, and he let Joey hold the championship ring he won playing for the Patriots in 2015. (Casillas also won a Super Bowl with the Saints during his rookie season in 2009.)

He even gave Joey a piece of advice: "The most important thing you can do is listen to them," Casillas said, pointing to Joey's parents. "They know a little more than you do right now, so understand that." (You can watch the whole clip at the bottom of this article.)

And Casillas signed another football for Joey. One side reads "To Joey," with Casillas's autograph and uniform number, 52. But this one has an additional message: "DO NOT TAKE OUTSIDE!!"

"He signed the ball and goes, 'Wait, I have to add something,' " Erica Cirillo said. "It was so funny!"

That football now sits in Joey's room, it reads,When he walked in he goes to Leigha (Joey's twin, who's in a wheelchair) I remember you and your family'

"It was truly amazing," Erica Cirillo said. "Something never to be forgotten. He really was awesome."

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