Apr 27, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes greets fans during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Chiefs visit White House, present Joe Biden with jersey

The Kansas City Chiefs visited President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday to celebrate their Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs’ delegation in Washington, D.C., just short of four full months after guiding the Chiefs to a 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Ariz.

Biden was presented with a Chiefs’ No. 46 jersey in an outdoor gathering. A notable moment came when Biden was presented with his jersey, and tight end Travis Kelce veered away to approach the microphone.

“So I have been waiting for this moment,” Kelce began to say as Mahomes made like a Secret Service agent, quickly cutting off his favorite target and ushering him back with the team.

Mahomes also led the Chiefs a Super Bowl victory in February 2020 but the team did not visit the White House because of COVID-19 restrictions. The franchise won the Super Bowl after the 1969 season, before White House visits were common for sports champions.

During the visit, Biden recognized Norma Hunt, wife of Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt, who passed away Sunday at 85.

–Field Level Media

Jul 20, 2021; Washington, DC, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady speaks at the podium as President Joe Biden (left) and Buccaneers owner Bryan Glazer (middle) react during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House to honor the team for their Super Bowl LV Championship. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Brady in attendance as champion Bucs visit White House

The White House welcomed the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a visit with President Joe Biden on Tuesday.

It marked the first visit by an NFL team to the White House since 2017. Then-President Donald Trump revoked the Philadelphia Eagles’ invitation in 2018, the New England Patriots chose not to attend in 2019 and the Kansas City Chiefs never made it to Washington, D.C., in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also represented seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady’s first visit to the White House since 2005. He skipped the Patriots’ trips in 2015 and 2017, the former while Barack Obama was in office and the latter with Trump.

Brady, who has described Trump as a “good friend” but has tried to avoid revealing his political alignment, joked with President Biden during Tuesday’s visit about Biden defeating Trump in the 2020 election.

“Not a lot of people think that we could’ve won. In fact, I think about 40 percent of the people still don’t think we won,” Brady said, a reference to some Republicans’ efforts to investigate voter fraud and even overturn the election result.

“I understand that,” Biden interjected.

The Buccaneers won their second Super Bowl in franchise history the same season they added Brady, 43, who entered free agency after 20 seasons with New England. Brady will be 44 when he leads the Bucs into the 2021 season.

–Field Level Media

Feb 7, 2021; Tampa, FL, USA;  Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians is handed the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium.  Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Bucs to visit White House on Tuesday

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will celebrate their Super Bowl title won in February at the White House on Tuesday, multiple media outlets reported.

Neither the Buccaneers nor the White House confirmed the celebration will take place at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., however.

Should it come to fruition, it would mark the first time since 2017 that a defending Super Bowl champion visited the White House.

Then-President Donald Trump rescinded the invitation to the 2018 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, claiming the team didn’t show the proper respect for the country during the playing of the national anthem in the previous season.

The title-holding New England Patriots in 2019 and Kansas City Chiefs the following year did not attend the traditional celebratory ceremony. The Chiefs’ plan to visit was abandoned because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers visited President Joe Biden at the White House earlier this month to celebrate their 2020 World Series championship.

The Buccaneers posted a 31-9 victory over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV. Seven-time champion Tom Brady was named Super Bowl MVP.

–Field Level Media