The Green Bay Packers visited the White House on Friday to celebrate their Super Bowl XLV victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
President Barack Obama, a professed fan of Chicago teams, was presented with some stock certificate in the Packers by cornerback Charles Woodson.
"Today 112,000 people own a piece of this franchise, it is the only publicly owned team in pro sports," Obama said. "Even a Bears fan can admit that the relationship between Green Bay and its team is something special."
Without realizing it, Obama slighted Bears quarterback Jay Cutler a bit by joking that if he was part owner of the Packers, "I think we should initiate a trade to send (Aaron) Rodgers down to the Bears."
Rodgers presented Obama with a No. 1 Packers jersey with a "Commander in Chief" nameplate on the back during the lighthearted ceremony.
"Everything that he's challenged with every day, to come out and have a little fun, take pictures and shake hands, that whole thing, I'm sure he does that a thousand times a day," Woodson said. "That's the most impressive part about him."
Reigning Super Bowl champions typically visit the White House during the offseason, but the Packers' trip was delayed due to the lockout and squeezed in before the team's preseason opener at Cleveland on Saturday.
"We weren't sure we'd have enough time to do this, but I know the guys were all excited once we found out we got to be here," Rodgers said. "It's a long day of travel but it's well worth it to be able to spend time at the White House and meet the President and enjoy the end of that Super Bowl run."
