The Chiefs visited the White House on Friday, celebrating their Super Bowl LVIII win with a trip to D.C.
President Joe Biden welcomed the team to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for a second consecutive year.
“Welcome back. Welcome back to the White House. Super Bowl LVIII champions. The Kansas City Chiefs,” Biden said. “The first team in 20 years to win back-to-back. Winning back-to-back. I kind of like that.”
Every Chiefs player and coach stood behind Biden after only 20 players and coaches attended the 2023 event. Chiefs owner Clark Hunt and his family missed last year’s visit after his mother, Norma Hunt, died the day before the trip.
“I want to take a moment to say thank you, President Biden, for the very kind words you shared about my mother last year. That meant a lot to our family,” Hunt said during his time at the microphone.
In 2023, star tight end Travis Kelce went to the podium uninvited to address the crowd as Biden had his back turned. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes quickly pulled Kelce away.
On Friday, Biden invited Kelce to speak.
“I’d have Travis come up here, but God only knows what he’d say,” Biden said. “Travis, come here.”
A teammate yelled Kelce’s trademark, “All right now!”
“My fellow Americans, it’s nice to see you all yet again,” Kelce said. “I’m not going to lie President Biden: They told me if I came up here I’d get tased, so I’m going back to my spot.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid gave Biden a helmet after the speeches, and the President unbuckled the chinstrap, took off his sunglasses and donned the helmet.
The United States Marine Band played “We Are the Champions” and Kelce’s favorite Beastie Boys anthem “Fight for Your Right” at the end of the ceremony.
The tradition of the White House visits for championship teams began in 1980, but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the Chiefs’ trip to D.C. in 2020 after they beat the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV to cap the 2019 season.
Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson received a phone call from President Richard Nixon after Super Bowl IV.
Copyright © 2024
Leave a Reply