Ava Childs of Glen Ellyn beat out 17,000 other kids to win the chance to hand NFL officials the ceremonial game ball.
Childs won the "Super Kid" title by writing about health and fitness and how the Chicago Bears' Robbie Gould inspires her to become the league's first female kicker.
Gould delivered the good news about the contest to Childs at a school assembly. She says Gould also taught her and her classmates how to kick a field goal.
The only disappointment is that the Bears didn't earn the chance to join her at the game.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
