At the NFL annual league meeting, Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie addressed the team's upcoming White House visit to celebrate their Super Bowl LIX championship, making it clear that participation is entirely optional for players. The Eagles announced their intention to visit the White House in March following their championship victory.
"Our culture is that these are optional things," Lurie told reporters. "If you want to enjoy this, come along and we'll have a great time, and if you don't, it is totally an optional thing."
Lurie described the visit as a "time-honored tradition" and an "obvious choice" for the organization. "We just felt this is a time-honored tradition, being invited by the White House," Lurie said. "There was no reticence whatsoever. To be celebrated at the White House is a good thing."
This visit contrasts with the Eagles' experience after their first Super Bowl victory in 2017 when President Donald Trump rescinded the team's invitation. At the time, several players, including safety Malcolm Jenkins, expressed opposition to the administration and planned to skip the event.
"There were special circumstances back then that were very different," Lurie explained, referring to the 2018 situation. "This was kind of an obvious choice. And we look forward to it."
When asked about potential concerns regarding the political implications of the visit, Lurie maintained a neutral stance. "This is really just an invitation from the White House," he said. "That's all this is, and we're not politicizing it in any way. Not for us."
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Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni echoed Lurie's position, telling reporters at the owners' meetings that he's "really excited to go" and appreciates the "honor" of the ceremonial visit.
The Eagles' White House visit is scheduled for later this month. While the organization has accepted the invitation, it remains to be seen how many players will choose to attend the ceremony.
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This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 2:44 PM.