Jimmy Carter started huge NFL tradition and had Terry Bradshaw to thank for it

The United States is reflecting on the life of Jimmy Carter after the former president's death aged 100 on Sunday, including his considerable importance in the world of sports.

Jimmy Carter's presidency established many firsts in United States history , which also included championship-winning teams visiting the White House.

In February 1980, President Carter invited the Terry Bradshaw -led Pittsburgh Steelers to the White House to celebrate the team's Super Bowl XIV win over the Los Angeles Rams .

Carter also invited the MLB's Pittsburgh Pirates , to commemorate the team's World Series win that same year.

The visit was a notable one because the Steelers were the first NFL team invited to the White House.

The decision to invite both teams soon set a precedent within the American sports world, with major league and college champions routinely visiting the White House during their road trips to Washington D.C.

(or nearby) to be celebrated by the sitting president.

Terry Bradshaw asks why he's upsetting everyone moments before FOX NFL Sunday Terry Bradshaw fights back tears in emotional tribute to Greg Gumbel on FOX NFL Sunday At the time, Carter's decision to invite both the Steelers and Pirates to Washington D.C.

was not only to commemorate their accomplishments but also the fierce fan support behind both teams.

I want to include in this salute not only Pittsburgh itself but to the entire western region of Pennsylvania, because I dont know of any team or set of teams that have had such overwhelming and constant and enthusiastic support than these two teams have had from the entire region of Pennsylvaniaand I might say, looking at my own members of my family, not only from western Pennsylvania but from the White House as well and from Plains, Georgia," Carter said at the time, per Behind the Steel Curtain .

Excellence on a transient basis is much easier than excellence sustained over a long period of time, and it requires not only a great spirit but a deep and permanent commitment to sustain that kind of championship form "Not only have they brought honor and credit to their team but theyve brought honor and credit to their community, because of a spirit of service to others.

I think the reciprocal nature of that unselfish attitude has paid rich dividends for them as teams.

One month after Bradshaw and the Steelers visited the White House, the Super Bowl MVP shared that he voted for Carter in the election that year, diving deep into why he made that decision.

"Im concerned, but not as concerned about him as I am about all the other problems weve got going," he told Playboy in March 1980 .

"It just seems to me that we spend a lot of money to make up our national debtand theres inflation and prices go up, the dollar goes down.

Everybody talks about balancing the budget.

For why? I dont understand it.

Ive lost a lot of money in the cattle business.

We import a lot of meat.

And so its kept the domestic prices down because of the import of foreign beef.

"When we finally cut down our import of foreign beef, our domestic beef prices went up where we could make a living.

By the time I put up hay and fertilize my hayfields and pay for my equipment and pay for my labor and then sell my cattle, I may make a profit.

Most of the time, I lose money.

"If it werent for my football money, which keeps my ranch going, my ranch would lose money every year.

And if I had to live off my farm, Id starve." Carter died Dec.

29 at the age of 100 .

He held the record as the longest-living U.S.

president, having entered hospice care in Plains, Georgia.

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