“Welcome back to the White House,” Biden said. “Super Bowl LVIII champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. The first team in 20 years to win back-to-back. Winning back-to-back, I kind of like that.”
This was the franchise’s second trip to the White House for the traditional champions’ visit. Its first league championship (after the 1969 season) came before the tradition began, and its 2020 title took place shortly before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the world. Its first visit followed last year’s Super Bowl win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
During last year’s visit, Biden joked about first lady Jill Biden’s “rabid” support for the Eagles and tight end Travis Kelce briefly commandeered the microphone before being quickly led away by quarterback Patrick Mahomes. On Friday, Biden invited Kelce to the mic, though he withdrew shortly after.
“My fellow Americans, it’s nice to see you all yet again,” Kelce said, before shifting his tone. “I’m not going to lie, President Biden, they told me if I came up here I’d get Tased, so I’m going to go back to my spot.”
This year’s celebration came after several notable off-field occurrences involving Chiefs players.
Kicker Harrison Butker, one of the league’s top specialists, made controversial comments during a May 11 commencement speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan. He spoke about the “diabolical lies told to women” and “dangerous gender ideologies” and criticized gay pride and Biden’s stance on abortion. His comments sparked public criticism and debate, and the NFL later distanced itself from him, telling The Washington Post, “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization.”
In April, an arrest warrant was issued for wide receiver Rashee Rice for his involvement in a six-car crash on a Dallas freeway, for which he is facing one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury. Police said Rice was driving 119 mph before the crash, which injured at least four people.
Rice was one of the Chiefs’ top receivers last season, making 79 catches for 938 yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season. But his offseason issues continued last month, when he was investigated for a separate incident in early May, when he allegedly assaulted and injured a man at a Dallas lounge. Police later told the Dallas Morning News the man declined to press charges.
Chiefs offensive tackles Wanya Morris and Chukwuebuka Godrick were arrested May 17 in Johnson County, Kan., on misdemeanor possession of marijuana charges. They were booked into jail and released the following day after posting bond.
Finally, Chiefs defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs turned himself in to authorities Thursday, a day after two misdemeanor warrants of cruelty to dogs in the second degree were filed against him. Buggs joined the Chiefs as a practice squad player in January and signed a futures contract with the team in February.
