Couple Welcomes Baby Girl 12 Hours Before Dad's Fantasy Football Draft — and He Gets to Be Present for Both (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Drafting the day Elsie was born (left), Justin Alvarez and daughter Elsie.Photo:cia.pia/TikTok; Courtesy of Pattsy Housely

cia.pia/TikTok; Courtesy of Pattsy Housely

Justin Alvarez andPattsy Houselywelcomed a little champion during their favorite season of the year.

The football-loving couple learned they were pregnant in 2023, with a Sept. 3 due date .

“My pregnancy was a huge surprise! We had a lot of hiccups and had to see a lot of specialists because Elsie wasn’t developing correctly, but it all turned out okay,” Mom tells PEOPLE.

“He mentioned she would be born during football and boating season as soon as we found out her due date, Sept. 3,” Housely says. “He wanted to know if the hospital had coverage of the games just in case she was born a week-plus late. I also love football so I was curious too.”

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With football season comes fantasy football, so Alvarez took his daughter’s due date into consideration when making his plans.

“He and his friends scheduled the draft weeks, maybe even months, in advance. It was scheduled for Sept. 5, two days after my due date,” Housely explains. “We always thought she would come early, so it wouldn’t be an issue, but she was born on Sept. 4 — about 12 hours before the draft.”

Alvarez managed to be devoted and diligent in his attention to both, though Housely had to poke some fun at the first-day dad’s multitasking. His draft went pretty well, with him picking up players like Jalen Hurts, DK Metcalf and Stefon Diggs.

Courtesy of Pattsy Housely

“It was a crazy day! We spent a lot of her newborn days cuddled up on the couch watching football and rooting for her dad’s fantasy football lineup,” the new mom says. “The first NFL game was just two or three days later.”

Both Housely and Alvarez have gotten a kick out of seeing their story go viral — and hearing other parents relate.

Justin Alvarez and daughter Elsie.Courtesy of Pattsy Housely

As a new football season starts and the family celebrate their little one’s transition to toddlerhood following her 1st birthday, Housely is proud to say, “Elsie is doing amazing!”

“We still cuddle up and watch football all day Sunday and throughout the week. It’s probably my favorite thing! Knowing her dad, she has no choice but to be a diehard football fan for life.”

source: people.com