Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is not making the visit with President Donald Trump at the White House mandatory for the players.
Seven years after having their invitation rescinded by Trump, the Eagles will follow the tradition of visiting the President of the United States to celebrate their Super Bowl championship triumph.
The 78-year-old Trump formally invited the Eagles to the White House, and the Super Bowl champs accepted. Jeffrey Lurie and the Eagles organization will meet with the President on Apr. 28.
Many folks believe that in circumstances like this, politics should be put aside and that the entire team should visit the White House regardless of who’s in office. But Lurie told reporters on Tuesday that he’ll each player will make an individual decision, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
“Our culture is that these are optional things,” Lurie said. “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.”
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“We have a QB that can squat 600 pounds and an OLine with All-Pro talent” pic.twitter.com/O5cnexCAn0
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) April 1, 2025
After the Eagles won Super Bowl 52, Trump rescinded their White House invitation after several players said they wouldn’t attend. Unlike most other NFL owners, Jeffrey Lurie has been critical of Trump and has donated to Democratic politicians.
Trump also canceled the Golden State Warriors’ invitation to the White House after they won the 2017 NBA title. Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant had stated they wouldn’t attend, and head coach Steve Kerr has always been a vocal Trump critic.
This time, however, Lurie and (at least) a significant portion of the Eagles organization will take up Trump’s offer.
Jeffrey Lurie Cements Himself As An All-Time Great NFL Owner
What do most successful professional sports teams have in common? They’re hands-off and hire the people they think are best for the job, then stay entirely out of their way.
Jeffrey Lurie has done that since becoming owner of the Eagles in 1994. With four NFC championships and two Lombardi Trophies alone in the 21st century, Lurie has cemented himself as one of the all-time great NFL owners in an era where guys like Jerry Jones, Woody Johnson, Jim Irsay and David Tepper keep ruining their franchises by getting too involved in personnel decisions.
