Danny Speski, a sixth grade student from Chicago, entered the NFL100 contest, looking to be the featured youth in the league’s now famous Super Bowl LIV commercial.
Although Speski came up short, he sent an emotional letter to the NFL thanking them for their contest and explaining how it helped bring he and his father closer together.
In the letter, Speski wrote, “we talked about it every day, played Madden together and we dreamed together because of you and the contest.”
The letter elicited a response from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, but that was not all. Speski also received a care package courtesy of New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, complete with a personalized video and signed football.
Take a look:
“I think it’s dope you and your dad became a lot closer off of football,” Barkley said in the video. “When I go back to when I was in sixth grade and fifth grade, that’s how me and my dad became close too. Even though you didn’t make it to the contest, keep dreaming, keep working hard, great things are coming your way.
Although he’s a Chicago Bears fan, Speski views Barkley as the best running back in the NFL and one day hopes to be just like him.
