Cardinal Hayes High School‘s state championship-winning football team visited City Hall on Tuesday, February 27, to meet New York City Mayor Eric Adams and receive a mayoral proclamation.

The Cardinal Hayes Cardinals finished their season 12-2, becoming the first New York City team to win the state’s Catholic football championship. In 2022, the team had finished 2-8.

Mayor Adams commented on the adversity that the Hayes team overcame throughout the season. “Life is not ideal. Can you play no matter what’s in front of you?” He added, “If you’re a real champion, you’re going to adjust, you know you have one mission, to put that ball over the goal line.”

The visit continued a victory tour for the Bronx high school’s team. On December 2, 2023, Bronx borough president Vanessa L. Gibson declared “Cardinal Hayes Football Day.” In January, quarterback Rich Belin, a junior, was named Gatorade New York Football Player Of The Year. On February 16, television host and former New York Giant Michael Strahan presented an extended, live “Good Morning America” segment from the Cardinal Hayes campus in Concourse Village.

During the “Good Morning America” broadcast, the team received a $50,000 donation from Bank of America to improve its practice facilities, an additional $30,000 in equipment from manufacturer Riddell, and tickets for pre-season games from the New York Giants.

Cardinal Hayes alumni and former players Steve Colavito, Stalin Colinet, and Willie Colón later played in the National Football League.