Inside a Wilson Football Factory | The New York Times

Jane Helser recently retired after working for nearly 50 years at the Wilson Sporting Goods factory, the source of the N.F.L.’s handmade footballs.
Produced by: Vijai Singh and Ashley Maas
Read the story here: nyti.ms/1wqhYZj
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Inside a Wilson Football Factory | The New York Times
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[@countalucard4226]

What a sweet lady. Enjoy your retirement. I hope it's long and joyful

[@Lowtan]

the pride she took in her craft almost made me tear up. if the video was 30 more seconds i would have lost it.

[@IerNeshamah]

1000% facts lol

[@emiiiliioquiinttanall3569]

Hey man, just saw ur comment, 4 years later, hope u doing food

[@LucasElliot]

This feels so personal! I'm never going to look at a Wilson football the same way again!

[@chickengwangzz7654]

Lucas Elliot this lady is very cool and chill also very good looking.

[@shake4259]

Chickeng Wangzz gilfs are your speciality I see

[@mrAkbad]

I decided to buy an official NFL game ball immediately after watching this video. That thing cost over $100 but I think it is well worth it after looking at the way the ball is made and the people behind it!

[@WilsonFootball]

Good choice!

[@josecorbera4428]

Just bought one now too. The thing feels amazing, every time I hold it it feels like I hold the power of a quarterback lollipops

[@josecorbera4428]

Lol*

[@dmurr3666]

The football is rarely ever as good as the one sent to the NFL. The footballs that have defects are the ones that go retail.

[@666zlatan666]

Ok, boomer

[@mtrush98]

It may not be the most important job in the world but she takes pride in what she does and does the best job she can and that says a lot.

[@ourcollectiveinsanity]

she has sadly been fooled by the system into believing that being a hard worker pays off, and as we can all see she lives in a shoe box and probably has diabetes because she couldnt afford quality food, a sad sight to be seen if you ask me.

[@metroboomin3990]

Computer Simulated Atomic Coded Reality hey as long as she’s happy

[@BeckVMH]

@@ourcollectiveinsanity Ah, spoken like a true materialist "having that attitude that physical well-being and worldly possessions constitute the greatest good and highest value in life." You may look cute on the outside, but on the inside, you're a very sad puppy. The fact that you cannot understand or appreciate Ms. Helser's success in life does not reflect well on your personal perception. I hope you one day sort that out.

[@scrappydappy720]

What a beautiful story. God bless you.

[@joebazooks]

It's crazy what fulfills some people. I'm glad the lady enjoys her job!

[@joebazooks]

Dan Thilman i probably would not find her job fulfilling, personally. how is that condescension?

[@Brandon91x]

tonyfalca Same with the American company that makes carhart jackets they love their Job.

[@joebazooks]

***** If somebody loves their job, that's a good thing :)

[@peperruti]

Very heartfelt.

[@Themightymoze]

Beautiful story... Thank you! Just bought myself one!

[@ylwsnoproduction5897]

In a world filled with hate and disaster i needed this to help warm my heart and smile. People like her deserve the spotlight! good work New York Times!

[@bwan03]

This is wonderful!

[@ryanadkins324]

I just bought a Wilson official game ball after wanting one since I was a kid. I'm 30, and now I can say I have the best ball made. Great job

[@antemeridiemwolf]

Go Jane! Enjoy your much-deserved retirement!

[@koudiack]

YOOOOO "am tough" lmao

[@Michi_88_Packers]

I love her and those awesome Wilson Balls of Fun ♥️🇺🇸🏈 bless her heart and work 🙏🏼🍀

[@DavidSmith-um6ms]

I was there today all the people at that factory do fantastic work my best friends son had to do an interview for a special school project we got to meet Dan Riegle he gave us a rare tour of the factory very awesome

[@jeanmarcdemers7639]

Proud of you !

[@gregfallin5001]

What a Nice Lady!! Thank You For A Job Well Done!!! Enjoy Your Deserved Retirement Years!!!

[@ILIJA2002]

Handmade is everytime better !

[@UNKNOWN-le2tu]

i have a football sewn by her. love you and your dedication.

[@MrMinigun457]

That is just beautiful

[@roccosiffredi6427]

God bless you In a world full of hate and pettiness you are a shining light!

[@mizza0101]

Brasil Loves NFL

[@King_David_]

She’s awesome

[@davidsekowski1710]

I wish she was my grandma? What a sweet kind soul.

[@drklopek2971]

Great work Jane!! I own too balls that I hope u had something to do with!!

[@jperkins12]

I think we all own two balls !!!!! Mine aren’t Wilsons’, their Rawling.

[@shake4259]

jess perkins haha

[@darksideorbit8898]

All boys do lmao

[@itsmookie9687]

she is so amazing

[@RoachRecords7]

She’s adorable ❤️

[@EL_SINALOENSE]

THANK YOU JANE‼️‼️😁 GO CARDZ‼️‼️

[@thomascapitalmgt]

What an amazing American woman and an American story. I’d like to meet her.

[@mks191rb]

very interesting!

[@dylangreer3274]

fits perfectly into my hand the football does

[@Deewrizz]

Jane your a wilson football sewing G.O.A.T

[@iowaasian9172]

I’m here watching this at 1:00 am and I will never look at my football again all the every that goes in to it 🏈🤎

[@kolohelau1185]

Amen, amen... errrday aMen!!! Great story

[@dylangreer3274]

im holding one of your creations right now, i feel connected wih you, thank you for blessing the entire NFL

[@blmisajoke5813]

Look at the length of this video

[@christopheroliver2465]

Getting those fooseballs made for Bobby Boucher and his fancy fooseball friends.

[@malcontent7976]

American football is my comfort.

[@snowfall5171]

Just purchased a Wilson NCAA Made in USA Football, top quality, as american as it can get.

[@juianrivera9174]

I previously ordered a duke football and when it arrived I opened it and I noticed how the duke football it was in bad shape the nfl logo that’s gold was scraped so you can see the leather and I was disappointed and the sowing was popping out with bumps by the laces although it’s a good ball it was kind of a waist of 100 dollars by far

[@dmurr3666]

The defect footballs go retail.

[@ourcollectiveinsanity]

working for wilson since 1966, owns the smallest house in town.

[@craneoperator4]

I keep of hearing about $5.00 bladder/lace kit..but after contacting wilson they don't know about it...so what gives?

[@FarmerBill-cl4rb]

Call them 419-634-9901

[@jonmolina948]

I wonder if there’s a lot horsing around on the job. I’d be throwing it around telling people to “go deep”. Boss will be calling a meeting to find out who dented his car.

[@tommysoprano1441]

Do they make the CFL ball at this factory? CFL uses Wilson so I assume they make it there

[@andyhynds-pq5df]

Every Canadian Football League ball since 1995 has been made in Ada, Ohio. I visited the factory in 2014 and they had a Grey Cup ball in the bin from the 101st Grey Cup game (2013) in Saskatchewan. That day they were boxing up some CFL footballs for shipment and making some NCAA balls. Really cool place to check out and they have retired staff conduct the tours.

[@tommysoprano1441]

@@andyhynds-pq5df thank you my friend. When I was a kid CFL football was Spaulding J5V. Big ball. Was so glad when CFL switched to Wilson. From what I hear the ball is the same now except CFL has stripes on the ball.

[@andyhynds-pq5df]

@@tommysoprano1441 No problem my friend. CFL ball was the Spalding J5V until 1995 because Spalding moved production from Southern Ontario to South Korea. Wilson ball was better quality than the new Spalding ball and the shape of the Wilson ball was marginally different in 1995 (less round). Around 2018 the Wilson CFL was made identical to the NFL "Duke" except that the quarterbacks preferred the bigger laces on the CFL ball so now that is the main difference (plus the two full white stripes on the ends). Take care.

[@tommysoprano1441]

@@andyhynds-pq5df thank you brother. Most American quarter backs that play in CFL love the new CFL Wilson ball. As a Canadian I can tell you. Canada produces many good football players. Linemen receivers. Tight ends. Line backers. But we do not produce many good quarter backs. Spoke to many US quarter backs who played in cfl. We just do not have the proper training. Canadian colleges produce many good players but unfortunately not many good quarter backs. There is a young guy forgot his name who plays for the BC Lions born in Canada is actually getting Manny looks from the NFL. Best of luck to him.

[@Selfexplantors]

does this mean i get ten tooo twenty years to play football with the pros 😅

[@primomx1]

I thought a football is called pigskin cause is made from a pig, they say it was a cow skin

[@dylangreer3274]

+DRUNK KOBE Its leather for NFL footballs, but originally pig blatters were used for footballs, "the duke" was used until 1970 because of the AFL and NFC merge, the football came back as the duke but with a new design, the agreement between Wilson and the NFL for a main ball supplier has lasted over 65 years, the longest agreement in history

[@sebsant3467]

Dam the biggest football I can use is a Wilson junior football

[@jjmeara26]

I have the 100 dollar real deal nfl ball and it's great.

[@silkboxing4454]

josh's bullet club Nice. I have 3 of them and had every Player of the Eagles sign it this year 2017 Now we’re going to the Bowl. If they Win, I am taking it to an Auction!

[@sadeqsegaraga8766]

What kind of leather?

[@dmurr3666]

Horween leather from Chicago.

[@sadeqsegaraga8766]

@@dmurr3666. Pig skin or cow?

[@jdmetro2096]

2:27

[@Xotwod69]

so glad I bought an nfl ball

[@bigbonedturtle3748]

I'm still trying to find out why it says wtf on the footballs

[@justinwatson899]

I look at that every time

[@chengbros6101]

It’s say WTF 1845 it’s like they hated that year 😂

[@victoraldaba4483]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@masteratadobeother]

there made in america?

[@MarkO45839]

Ada, Ohio

[@jesusvermillionthemereoleo5660]

@Cory McGUCKIN some people don't want to spend 100 Bucks on a ball

[@alonalkalai9505]

I actually own a game used ball

[@airpik8766]

I got a Wilson ball and it was made in China and it was a football

[@chengbros6101]

The material is made in China but it is built in the use

[@jeminuz]

The Wilson football I bought 2 years ago was made in China.

[@karolygellert7126]

Maybe that's not The Duke.

[@kylefitzgerald2229]

Why does my Wilson football say made in China? Lmao

[@habyss]

All this time I thought they were made from pigs.

[@Lowtan]

they used to be. that's why they were called "pig skins". i imagine as football got bigger that had to stop.

[@ussamanayyer1904]

It is handegg not Football...!

[@brothergrimaldus3836]

So funny... so original... Now do rugby....

[@BelindaWoodson]

The 🇺🇲🥩 of 🇺🇸🦅

[@MrKarvanen]

Inside of head-cracking facktory

[@hpod3sx]

great history, but by definition this is not a "ball" and it's not a "football" but good old english rugby on steroids with a lot of concussions...

[@babiesmakinbabies]

I love how she gets emotional at the end.

[@Frontfootback]

Where's the deflating part?

[@mancmackem]

What a lovely lady, and good on Wilson's for looking after employees in this way.

[@utgafandcem8n383]

This name, i regcnize it somehow. I dont know