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President Joe Biden welcomed the Kansas City Chiefs, the Super Bowl champions, to the White House on Monday. He commended the players for their outstanding performance on and off the field.
During the ceremony on the South Lawn, President Biden emphasized that the Chiefs not only excel in football but also understand the importance of using their platform to make a positive impact.
“Most important, as much as these guys know about football, they know about life and how to use their platform to make a difference,” Biden said during the South Lawn ceremony. “Speaking out for racial justice, honoring veterans as you do, supporting tutors and mentors for local schools – this is an organization that emphasizes community service and encourages players to create their own charitable organizations, which many have done, and it matters. You’re showing the power of one of the most elusive things in the world: Unity.”
The Chiefs secured their victory in an exciting 38-35 shootout against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII back in February. This win marked their second Super Bowl championship in four years, following their previous victory in Super Bowl LIV.
President Biden specifically lauded Patrick Mahomes, the MVP of the 2023 Super Bowl, and tight end Travis Kelce. At the end of the ceremony, Mahomes and Kelce presented the president with a Chiefs jersey. The president praised Mahomes’ exceptional talent as a young quarterback and highlighted his achievements, including being a two-time MVP and the only player in history to have a winning record when trailing by 10 points or more. President Biden predicted that Mahomes would go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks of his generation and possibly of any generation.
During the event, President Biden also paid tribute to the late Norma Hunt, the wife of Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt, who had attended every Super Bowl in history as the only woman to do so. He extended his condolences to the entire Hunt family, including Clark Hunt, Norma’s son and the current CEO of the Chiefs. President Biden acknowledged the Chiefs’ impressive accomplishments and mentioned their potential to build a dynasty.
The president jokingly mentioned that his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, is a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Referring to her support for the Eagles, he playfully anticipated a challenging evening ahead for him considering the game’s outcome.
President Biden shared a personal anecdote about his brief stint playing football at the University of Delaware. He mentioned how his lack of skill, combined with his mother’s encouragement, led him to quit. Recalling a coach’s comment that he ran faster backward than anyone he had seen, President Biden humorously remarked that his political opponents might share the same sentiment.
Following the ceremony, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid expressed his gratitude for the team’s visit to the White House.
“We’re really gracious being here, and thankful for all that the White House staff did for us, along with the president – he was phenomenal,” Reid said. “He took us, gave us a couple of personal talks there, and he was tremendous with it. And the one thing – it doesn’t really, the one thing I want to say, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a Democrat or Republican or independent, it’s about the unity and the opportunity to come together here as the United States and be a part of that.”
Travis Kelce also spoke highly of President Biden, stating that he appreciated hearing the president discuss his values and priorities in the Oval Office and the West Wing. Kelce found the experience enlightening and believed that President Biden genuinely cared about serving the country.
Patrick Mahomes described the entire visit as surreal.
“I mean, I’ve never been to Washington, DC – I’ve never even got to see from the outside, seeing the White House or any of the monuments or memorials,” Mahomes told reporters. “And so, to be able to be here and see that, and see the history of this great nation that we have, it was really cool for me to just be here and be in the moment, and I don’t think I could ever really imagine it being as cool as it was.”
