CNN –
President Joe Biden welcomed the Super Bowl winner Kansas City Chiefs to the White House on Monday and lauded the performance of the players on and off the field.
“Most importantly, these guys know as much about football as they know about life and how to use their platform to make a difference,” Biden said during the South Lawn ceremony. “They champion racial justice, honor veterans like you, support tutors and mentors for local schools – this is an organization with a focus on community service, encouraging gamers to start their own charities, which many have done, and that’s important.” They show the power of one of the most elusive things in the world: unity.”
The Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in a thrilling 38-35 shootout at Super Bowl LVII in February. It was the team’s second Super Bowl win in four years after winning the Super Bowl LIV championship.
Biden gave special praise to Super Bowl 2023 MVP Patrick Mahomes, who along with tight end Travis Kelce presented the president with a Chiefs jersey at the end of the ceremony.
“You got a young quarterback named Patrick — boy can play, man,” Biden said. “Two-time MVP, comeback king, the only player in history with a win record when behind by 10 points or more. We saw him play with that high ankle sprain – another legendary chapter in the history of one of the greatest quarterbacks of his generation, and I prophesy for every generation.”
Susan Walsh/AP
President Joe Biden welcomes the Kansas City Chiefs to the White House in Washington on Monday, June 5, 2023 to celebrate their championship season and victory in Super Bowl LVII.
Biden took the opportunity to pay tribute to the late Norma Hunt — the wife of Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt, after whom the AFC trophy is named — who became the only woman in history to attend every Super Bowl.
“Jill and I extend our condolences to the entire Hunt family, including their son and current Chiefs CEO, Clark Hunt,” he said. “And the Chiefs not only hold the title again, they’re building a dynasty.”
The President also paid tribute to First Lady – and famous Philadelphia sports fan – Dr. Jill Biden.
“I married a girl from Philadelphia – that explains a lot, doesn’t it?” he joked. “Luckily she is currently abroad in the Middle East. She’s an avid Eagles fan and the way the game ended I could be in for a tough night.”
And he recalled his own brief stint playing football at the University of Delaware before his mother and lack of skills forced him to quit. A trainer said to him, “You run backwards faster than anyone I’ve ever seen.”
“Well, my political opposition thinks the same thing,” he quipped.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
A football signed by members of the Kansas City Chiefs is seen in front of the West Wing of the White House June 5, 2023 in Washington, DC.
Following the ceremony, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid called the team’s visit “a great time.”
“We’re really grateful to be here and grateful for everything the White House staff has done for us along with the President — he’s been phenomenal,” Reid said. “He took us there, gave us a few face-to-face talks there and was great about it. And the one thing — that’s not really true, the only thing I want to say is that it doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat, Republican or Independent, it’s about unity and the opportunity to come together here as a United States and be a part of it .”
Kelce also praised Biden, telling reporters he enjoyed “hearing President Biden talk about the things and things that mean a lot to him in the Oval Office and over in the West Wing.”
“It was just quite enlightening and you can tell he’s there for the right reasons,” added Kelce.
Mahomes called the entire visit “surreal.”
“I mean, I’ve never been to Washington, DC — I’ve never seen the outside of the White House or any of the memorials or memorials,” Mahomes told reporters. “And so for me, it was really cool to be here and to see that and to see the history of this great nation that we have, and I don’t think I could do that.” I ever really imagined that it would is as cool as it was.”