The Philadelphia Eagles have officially announced their plan to visit the White House to celebrate their victory in this year’s Super Bowl over the Kansas City Chiefs. This confirmation came from the White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, and was later verified by an Eagles spokesperson. Leavitt clarified that despite initial rumors, an invitation was indeed sent out and eagerly accepted, scheduling the visit for April 28th.
This upcoming visit marks a significant shift from the Eagles’ last Super Bowl win in 2018, when they were uninvited to the White House amidst controversy. Back then, several players expressed their unwillingness to attend due to tensions over national anthem protests, which were a widespread movement in the NFL to highlight issues of racial inequality. At the time, then President Donald Trump had publicly criticized players who took a knee during the anthem, advocating for standing “proudly” in honor of the military and the country.
Leading up to their Super Bowl victory, Eagles’ offensive lineman Lane Johnson expressed his willingness to visit the White House, regardless of who the president is, emphasizing it would be a team decision. After their win, head coach Nick Sirianni offered a similar stance, indicating they would “see how it goes” regarding a potential visit.
In Trump’s second term, there seems to be less criticism from athletes, a stark contrast to his first term when figures like LeBron James and Megan Rapinoe openly voiced their opinions against the president. Trump attended the Super Bowl in February, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to do so, and was met warmly by several players, including the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
It’s a tradition for championship-winning teams to be invited to the White House. However, under Trump’s previous administration, several teams, such as the NBA’s Golden State Warriors and the United States Women’s National Team, either weren’t invited or made it clear they wouldn’t attend after their victories.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/11/philadelphia-eagles-white-house-visit
