The Steelers , who defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, will visit the White House on Thursday and meet with President Obama.
It marks the second White House visit in four years for the Steelers , who visited the White House after winning Super Bowl XL in 2006, when George W. Bush was president.
The Steelers will be the first NFL franchise to visit the White House in the Obama administration.
President Obama is a Steelers fan who named team chairman Dan Rooney as U.S. ambassador to Ireland on St. Patrick's Day. Rooney endorsed Obama during Pennsylvania's primary last year and campaigned for him throughout the election.
Four months after winning the election, Obama nominated Rooney to the ambassador post.
When the Steelers won Super Bowl XL, the team gave Bush a No. 43 jersey to represent Bush's position in presidential history, and a Football signed by team members. The president threw a short pass to Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward and joked with players.
The traditional visit by the Super Bowl champions is the same day as the team's final scheduled voluntary workout of the week. The Steelers' last White House visit was on a Friday.
Next Friday is the start of the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
"If we have an opportunity to go to the White House, we're going to the White House," Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett said.
