President Trump intends to name New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick to his sports council, the White House announced Friday.
Belichick, along with retired NFL running back Herschel Walker, retired New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera, Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor, golfer Natalie Gulbis, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, will be appointed to the president’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
Rivera, May-Treanor, and Walker will serve as co-chairs of the group, the White House said. All members are named to two-year terms.
Trump is close to Robert Kraft, owner of the five-time Super Bowl champion Patriots, and he welcomed the team to the White House last year to celebrate their latest Super Bowl win. During the 2016 presidential campaign, the president told supporters Belichick wrote him a note ahead of Election Day congratulating him on his campaign.
[Also read: New England Patriots owner and friend of Trump ripped the president in NFL meeting]
The president spoke on the phone with Belichick last week, the New York Times reported, and the two discussed Tom Brady, the Patriots quarterback.
Trump signed an executive order in February changing the focus of the council to youth sports participation and promoting the fitness, health, and nutrition of Americans.
[Related: Trump appoints Dr. Oz to fitness and nutrition council]
Sources told Axios the first gathering of the Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition will be hosted by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. Ivanka Trump, a senior White House adviser and Trump’s daughter, and Surgeon General Jerome Adams have also participated in talks about the group.
Trump is expected to invite members of the council to the White House and host a sports field day at some point.
The other members of the Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition are:
Brenda Larsen Becker
Johnny David Damon
Trevor Joseph Drinkwater
Lou Ferrigno
Robert Goldman
Nan Hayworth
Matthew Hesse
Ashlee Lundvall
Jacob Olson
Shauna Rohbock
Kyle Frederick Snyder
Stephen Soloway
Julie Teer
Chris Tisi
Robert Charles Wilkins
Samuel James Worthington, Jr.
Linda Yaccarino
