The Philadelphia Eagles have officially agreed to visit the White House at the invitation of President Donald Trump to commemorate their recent Super Bowl win. Both a team spokesperson and a White House official confirmed the news to USA TODAY Sports, noting that they are currently coordinating the schedule and logistics for the visit. The Eagles emerged as victors in Super Bowl LIX by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs with a score of 40-22 in New Orleans last month.
According to an email from the White House official, the invitation was extended and warmly accepted by the Eagles. This development was anticipated in recent weeks, as both parties had shown interest in proceeding with the customary White House visit. The team had signaled its willingness to accept an invitation from Trump on February 24, and the President had indicated the following day that they would indeed receive such an invitation.
The impending White House visit by the Eagles, a longstanding tradition for championship teams, garnered attention due to past controversies surrounding the team’s interactions with Trump. After the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory in 2018, Trump had rescinded their invitation last-minute following reports that the team planned to send a smaller group to the ceremony. This led to a tense situation, with the White House hosting a brief event the next day as an alternative celebration.
Trump’s relationship with the NFL and its players has been strained, particularly over his criticism of players kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice. Notably, only one of the four Super Bowl-winning teams during Trump’s first term visited the White House. Furthermore, NBA teams, many of whose players are Black, either did not receive invitations or declined to attend. Women’s sports champions also experienced a departure from tradition, as several did not receive White House invitations during Trump’s tenure.
For further information, readers can contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or via social media @tomschad.bsky.social.
