With the 2025 NFL Draft finished, football’s offseason goes into a more relaxed phase. That stage kicks off Monday with the Philadelphia Eagles visiting the White House and meeting President Donald Trump to celebrate their Super Bowl LIX victory.
The Eagles’ visit was officially announced in early March with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt telling reporters an invitation was extended to the Super Bowl champions, was accepted and a date for the visit was confirmed.
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That addressed rumors the Eagles would decline an invitation, going back to when the team did not visit the White House after winning Super Bowl LII in 2018. Trump claimed he withdrew an invitation because the players were “disrespectful” by staying in the locker room during the national anthem. Later reports indicated the Eagles had planned to send a small group to Washington, D.C., rather than the full team, with most of the team’s Black players declining to attend.
After defeating the Kansas City Chiefs, the Eagles quickly made it clear they would be “honored” to be invited to the White House and meet President Trump, though players and team officials still faced questions on the matter.
“We just felt this is a time-honored tradition, being invited by the White House,” Eagles team owner Jeffrey Lurie said at the annual NFL meetings earlier this month. “There was no reticence whatsoever. To be celebrated at the White House is a good thing.”
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However, when asked at the Time 100 gala on Thursday whether he would join the team for Monday’s visit, quarterback Jalen Hurts hesitated and didn’t provide an answer.
The Eagles will be the fourth major sports champion to visit the White House since President Trump took office this year.
Previously, the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers and College Football Playoff national champion Ohio State celebrated their respective titles with ceremonies in Washington, D.C.
During the Dodgers’ visit, superstar Shohei Ohtani appeared with the President in the Oval Office for a photo opportunity. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance had an embarrassing episode with Ohio State’s national championship trophy during the Buckeyes’ visit.
