President Bush with Pittsburgh Steelers

President Bush welcomed the National Football League Champion Pittsburgh Steelers to the White House Friday.

The Steelers presented Mr. Bush with a team jersey emblazoned with his name and the number 43 because he is the 43rd U.S. President. The team also gave Mr. Bush an autographed football.

The President said that he is a Dallas Cowboys fan and joked that it was hard to admit that the Steelers were one of the greatest football teams ever. Mr. Bush threw a short pass to Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Hines Ward and praised Ward and other Steelers players for their contributions to the community.

Mr. Bush also said the Steelers' team unity helped them win the title.

Pittsburgh defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 21-10, in February to capture the fifth Super Bowl title in franchise history. Pittsburgh has met Dallas three times in the Super Bowl - winning twice (in 1976 and 1979) and losing to the Cowboys one time (in 1996).

Some information for this report provided by AP.