Will the 2025 Super Bowl Champions Visit the White House? All About the Decades-Long Tradition (and Why President Trump Revoked Philadelphia’s Last Invitation)

Mar. 15, 2025

Patrick Mahomes, President Joe Biden and Travis Kelce at the White House in 2023.Photo:Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty

Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty

Super Bowlchamps visiting theWhite Houseis a decades-old tradition that began withJimmy Carterin 1980.

Since that inaugural celebration, the White House has welcomed most of the Super Bowl championship teams of the past 45 years — with a few exceptions, mostly due to major world events like theSpace Shuttle Challenger disasterof 1986.

But it wasn’t until 2018 that a team was disinvited. That year, PresidentDonald Trumprevoked the Philadelphia Eagles' invitationto 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue when he learned that nearly all the players were boycotting the visit.

Trump is expected to attend the 2025 Super Bowl on Feb. 9 in New Orleans, where the Kansas City Chiefs and the Eagles will compete for theLombardi Trophy. This will mark the first time in U.S. history that a sitting president will watch the big game in person.

“It’s a great honor,” Chiefs tight endTravis Kelcetold reporters on Feb. 5, referring to Trump’s upcoming appearance.

He continued, “No matter who the president is, I know I’m excited because it’s the biggest game of my life, you know, and having the president there — it’s the best country in the world — and that’s pretty cool.”

So, will the 2025 championship team visit the White House? Here’s everything to know about the annual tradition.

Why are the Super Bowl champions invited to the White House and when did the tradition start?

President Jimmy Carter hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers at the White House in 1980.Getty

Getty

Jimmy Carter was the first president to invite a Super Bowl-winning team to the White House in 1980. That year, he hosted a joint ceremony at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the World Series-winning Pittsburgh Pirates.

“It really was Carter who saw the magic of sports to bring people together,” Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association, toldFront Office Sportsin December 2024. “[He] began a tradition that has evolved and taken on different manifestations with different presidencies.”

After Carter lost the 1980 election to PresidentRonald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States continued the tradition, also inviting championship teams from other professional sports to Washington D.C.

During the ceremony — which has occurred everywhere from the South Lawn to the East Room and the Rose Garden — the sitting president traditionally makes a few remarks and is presented with a team jersey.

Will the Kansas City Chiefs visit the White House if they win the 2025 Super Bowl?

President Joe Biden hosting the Kansas City Chiefs at the White House in 2023.Kevin Dietsch/Getty

Kevin Dietsch/Getty

If the Kansas City Chiefs win the 2025 Super Bowl, it’s uncertain if the team will visit President Trump at the White House. During Trump’s first presidential term, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the Chiefs from visiting the White House following their 2020 Super Bowl win.

The Chiefs, however, visited the White House during PresidentJoe Biden’s term in both 2023 and 2024 following their back-to-back Super Bowl victories.

Will the Philadelphia Eagles visit the White House if they win the 2025 Super Bowl?

Philadelphia Eagles in 2025.Emilee Chinn/Getty

Emilee Chinn/Getty

It’s even more uncertain if the Philadelphia Eagles will visit the White House following a 2025 Super Bowl victory.

“The Philadelphia Eagles are unable to come to the White House with their full team to be celebrated tomorrow. They disagree with their President because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country,” Trump said in a statement at the time.

“The Eagles wanted to send a smaller delegation, but the 1,000 fans planning to attend the event deserve better. These fans are still invited to the White House to be part of a different type of ceremony—one that will honor our great country, pay tribute to the heroes who fight to protect it, and loudly and proudly play the National Anthem,” he continued.

Ahead of the 2025 Super Bowl,Front Office Sportsasked Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie if his team would head to Washington D.C. should they win the Super Bowl and he responded, “I just want to win Sunday.”

Is President Trump attending the 2025 Super Bowl?

President Trump hosting the New England Patriots at the White House in 2017.SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty

Yes, President Trump will attend the 2025 Super Bowl at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

Kelce told reporters it’s a “great honor” to have Trump in the audience, meanwhile, Eagles quarterbackJalen Hurtssaid there’s"no” added pressureknowing that the president will be in the stands.

While Trump hasn’t shared which team he plans to root for, he did call Mahomes a “winner” in apress briefingat the White House on Feb. 4.

“It’scool to hearthat he’s seen me play football and respects the game that I play,” Mahomes told reporters. “It’s always cool to be able to play in front of a sitting president, someone that is at the top position in our country.”

source: people.com