The Seattle Seahawks have revealed their stance on a potential White House visit following their Super Bowl LX triumph earlier this month.
On February 8th, Seattle secured their second-ever Super Bowl title after their 29-13 win over the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Traditionally, Super Bowl winners are invited to the White House following their victory – but recent events have thrown Seattle’s attendance into doubt.
Earlier this week, Team USA’s women’s hockey team declined an invitation to visit the White House – before U-turning on their stance just days later.
Meanwhile, five members of Team USA’s men’s hockey roster did not attend the team’s visit to the White House and Trump’s State of the Union on Tuesday.
Now, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has lifted the lid on Seattle’s situation and revealed that the team is yet to receive an invite from the president.
The Seattle Seahawks revealed their stance on a White House visit after their Super Bowl win
US president Donald Trump pictured as he delivered his State of the Union address on Tuesday
According to the Tacoma News Tribune, the Seattle coach said: ‘We haven’t gotten an invite yet. We’ll address it after that.’
The Seattle Times report that the ‘initial inclination of the organization would be to accept the invite’.
Macdonald later expanded on those comments after being asked about the possibility of receiving an invitation from White House officials.
‘I would hope so. I don’t know. We’re going to get an invite, right? That’s how it works? Not really sure how it works,’ he added, according to the outlet.
Super Bowl winners are traditionally invited to the White House, a practice that became annual during the Ronald Reagan administration. However, they are not always invited, nor do they always attend.
Just last year, after the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs, three players snubbed Trump’s invitation to the White House.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown, and DeVonta Smith all opted to skip the visit.
Despite the snub, Trump still went on to heap praise on Eagles star Hurts, as well as running back Saquon Barkley.
‘Complementing Saquon’s historic season was an incredible year for star quarterback Jalen Hurts,’ Trump told the crowd at the White House last year. ‘He had a great season and a great game.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald revealed they have not yet received an invite
Trump welcomed last year’s Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, to the White House – however three players, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, opted to skip the visit
Trump and Philadelphia Eagles’ running back Saquon Barkley shake hands at the White House
‘Finished with 32 [combined passing and rushing] touchdowns on the year, turning in one stellar performance after another, terrific guy.’
Meanwhile, in 2018, Trump canceled the planned visit of the Eagles – who had just won Super Bowl LII – to the White House, saying he disinvited the team after they disagreed with his call for players to stand for the national anthem.
Trump said in a statement that the Eagles, who defeated the New England Patriots in that year’s showpiece event, wanted to send a smaller delegation but that he declined.
‘They disagree with their president because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country,’ Trump said.
The season prior, some NFL players took a knee during the anthem to protest police shootings of unarmed black men, sparking a controversy.
Recently, meanwhile, controversy arose after Team USA’s women’s hockey team snubbed an invite to the White House before backtracking on the decision days later.
During his State of the Union Address on Tuesday evening, Trump introduced the men’s hockey team after their gold medal victory just two days ago.
‘They beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime, as everybody saw. As did the American women who will soon be coming to the White House,’ Trump told a filled chamber of Congress.
Team USA’s men’s hockey team pictured alongside Trump at the White House on Tuesday
The women’s hockey team initially declined their White House invitation before backtracking on the decision, according to Trump
After the men’s hockey team defeated Canada for the gold medal, Trump was overheard on a phone call inviting all of them to the White House on Tuesday before the State of the Union.
On the phone, Trump told the players, ‘We have, I must tell you, we are going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that. I do believe I would probably be impeached (if he didn’t invite them).’
That comment led to laughs from the men in the room and allegations of sexism toward all those involved.
The women’s team did eventually receive an invite, but declined the offer.
‘We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,’ USA Hockey told NBC News.
‘Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.
‘They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.’
But now, it seems, the team has agreed to return to the White House at some point to mark the occasion of their third gold medal win at the Olympics.
