A story went viral Sunday about the Philadelphia Eagles skipping an invite to attend a special ceremony at the White House because of their Super Bowl victory in February. However, people should approach the story with extreme skepticism.
As someone born and raised in Philadelphia, a stone’s throw from the stadium where the Eagles play, I was dismayed at the news. It was not altogether surprising, given they did not attend the White House after their Super Bowl victory in February 2018. Nevertheless, it was disappointing to read.
Then, I started researching the claim. It may have been a rush to judgment based on outdated information from an anonymous source.
Upon further review, the claim is based on an article published in the Sun on Feb. 6, 2025, and updated on Feb. 9. The story also cites an anonymous Eagles player saying the team wouldn’t attend.
“We represent a city and a state that is pushing for equal rights, respect, and values that respect every human being,” the player said. “We won’t forget what happened and the criticism we received for taking a stand against racism, and we won’t back down from our values of respect, integrity, and equality.”
There have been no official statements, posts, or information about the Eagles’ decision or any invitation from the White House about the team visiting. I contacted the Eagles on Monday morning to verify their position on visiting the White House. The inquiries went unanswered at the time of this publication.
THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES ARE AMERICA’S TEAM
The story about the team skipping a visit to the White House is an example of misinformation aggressively spreading on social media. Now, the Eagles may ultimately decide to skip a visit to the White House. It is believed that Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is not a Republican or a supporter of President Donald Trump, so the team’s not attending could very well still happen. And, understandably, that would draw disappointment and resentment from many of the team’s fans. However, as of this very moment, it is unknown.
Regardless of what happens, trusting an anonymous source from an article over two weeks old and inexplicably recycled on social media on Sunday should not be considered a reliable source.