Obama congratulates Baltimore Ravens on Super Bowl

by Associated Press |
In this handout frm the White House, U.S. President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the Oval Office September 28, 2012 in Washigton, DC. Netanyahu used a prop during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly to literally draw a red line at the point when he thought Israel action would have to be taken against Iran and its nuclear weapon capability. (Photo by Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images)

In this handout frm the White House, U.S. President Barack Obama talks on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the Oval Office September 28, 2012 in Washigton, DC. Netanyahu used a prop during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly to literally draw a red line at the point when he thought Israel action would have to be taken against Iran and its nuclear weapon capability. (Photo by Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is congratulating the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens.

The White House says Obama telephoned head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Ozzie Newsome on Tuesday afternoon to congratulate them and the team for their 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Obama also talked about how moved he and first lady Michelle Obama were by the story of O.J. Brigance. The former Ravens linebacker was diagnosed in 2007 with Lou Gehrig’s disease and now gets around using a wheelchair and communicates by a device that translates his thoughts.

Despite that, Brigance is the team’s senior adviser for player development, which requires him to help the athletes throughout their careers.

Obama said he looks forward to congratulating the team in person at the White House.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.