The Philadelphia Eagles, champions of Super Bowl LIX, have reportedly decided to skip the traditional White House visit following their victory. This decision comes amid a complex history between the team and President Donald Trump. In 2018, when the Eagles last won the Super Bowl, many players chose to boycott the White House visit due to Trump’s criticism of NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem to protest systemic racism.
Trump ultimately rescinded the invitation to avoid a public snub…. Silly.
To add insult to injury, Trump publicly picked the Kansas City Chiefs to win. Any chance the Eagles would have visited the White House probably expired following Trump’s errant prediction. Second, the relationship between Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and Trump has been strained. Lurie reportedly called Trump’s first term “disastrous” in a private meeting with other NFL owners in 2018.
But this wasn’t Lurie’s decision entirely – or at all. The team made a collective decision regarding the visit. Lane Johnson, an Eagles team captain, had mentioned that any decision would be made as a team, stating he would be honored to go but would support whatever the team decided. However, recent reports indicate that “pretty much everyone” on the team has decided against visiting the White House, citing their reluctance to meet with President Trump.
The decision reflects broader tensions between the NFL and Trump, particularly concerning issues of racial justice and political partisanship. The tradition of Super Bowl champions visiting the White House, which began during President Jimmy Carter’s administration, has become increasingly politicized in recent years.