Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Ditka is a pretty fiery character. Back in his coaching days, he was known as a fierce competitor and that was evident during his Super Bowl run with the Chicago Bears in 1985. Some may argue that it was the best Super Bowl team of all time — but that is a debate for another day, likely ending with a big fat “no they weren’t the best of all time”.

Ditka is the typical Chicago man: rough, rugged and willing to say anything on his mind. Those traits didn’t get away from him in a recent quote about President Barack Obama. The former head coach apparently regrets letting Barack Obama become president.

Wait, what? Letting him become president must mean that he voted for him and wish he never did, right? Every vote counts, right? Well that might be true, but Ditka is referring to the time when he nearly ran for the empty seat in the Illinois Senate as a Republican against Barack Obama in 2004, but decided against it at the last second.

Ditka had this to say about the decision not to run:

“Biggest mistake I’ve ever made. Not that I would have won, but I probably would have and he wouldn’t be in the White House.”

Call me crazy, but in order for Ditka to win the senate position over the favorite, Barack Obama, he would have had to know something about politics. I’m no genius, but I’m pretty sure Ditka spent his entire career as a football player and then a coach — not much time for studying up on politics. Imagine Ditka as the president — not saying he would run, but still. What a scary thought.

Sounds to me like Ditka thinks pretty highly of himself.

Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at .