Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka sees his decision not to run against Barack Obama in 2004 as his “biggest mistake.”
Speaking at an oil company’s grand opening ceremony in North Dakota the Super Bowl-winning former coach lamented that he could have prevented the Barack Obama presidency.
“Biggest mistake I’ve ever made,” Ditka said of not running against Barack Obama to represent Illinois in the U.S. Senate, according to a report from The Dickinson Press last week.
“Not that I would have won, but I probably would have and he wouldn’t be in the White House,” he added.
Ditka, who has reportedly described himself as an “ultra-ultra-ultra conservative,” gave his speech at a Canary oil company ribbon cutting for a new building in Watford City.
Ditka explained to a reporter a The Dickenson Press that he did not know why an oil company would invite him to speak at an opening ceremony.
“I have no idea,” The Dickenson Press quoted Ditka. “My secretary sets everything up.”
Ditka, a Hall of Fame tight end and Super Bowl-winning coach for Da Bears, is a Chicago institution. His 1985 championship team made musical history with the beloved and timeless “Super Bowl Shuffle.”
(H/T Deadspin)