The Carolina Panthers just fulfilled a badass little girl's wish ... and they might have found the team's future linebacker in the process.
And, we're only kinda kidding.
13-year-old Kyleigh -- who's battling a severe endocrine disorder -- worked with Make-a-Wish Foundation to not only MEET the Panthers, but train with them as well ... and she crushed it.
Superstar linebacker Thomas Davis hooked Kyleigh up with a helmet, jersey, gloves and team uni ... and let her rip into one of Carolina's OTA practices.
Turns out, she's pretty damn good.
"Kyleigh hit harder than Cap! Kyleigh hit harder than Cap!" Davis said, referring to DB Captain Munnerlyn.
Kyleigh's a legit athlete ... having won two wrestling championships ... and T.D. says the Panthers can learn as much from her as she can learn from them.
"She's a champion ... and when you have championship pedigree, I feel like it rubs off on everybody and she definitely rubbed off on a lot of us."