The President And The Pigskin

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler pitches the ball to running back Matt Forte during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis. on Jan. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke, File photo)

He's made the promise, now President Obama just needs his team to help him keep it. Last week, Obama said that he "is going no doubt" if the Chicago Bears make it to the Super Bowl. He also predicted they would do just that.

However, as they face off against the Green Bay Packers Sunday afternoon, it's uncertain the president will actually have to plan on firing up Air Force One since the Packers are picked to win.

But even talk of the Obama throwing on a Bears jersey and ducking down to Dallas for Super Bowl XLV got us thinking about the long-time love affair between the pigskin and the president.

-The tradition of a pre-game interview got started in 1984 when President Reagan sat down with Tom Brokaw before Super Bowl XX. Reagan was also the first president to place a post-game phone call to each team. In that first call in 1983, Reagan spoke with Joe Gibbs of the Washington Redskins (to offer up congratulations) and Don Shula of the Miami Dolphins (to offer up condolences).-It was a few years later that the White House began welcoming the winning team for a visit. In 1988, once again Reagan started the tradition by hosting the Washington Redskins. Reagan even made it a local holiday with some 600,000 people taking part in a parade. After all, the team didn't have to travel very far to get to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

-If Obama ends up at the Super Bowl, it will be the first time a sitting president has ever attended the big game. In the past, only three vice presidents have gotten to the gridiron; Al Gore (1994), George H.W. Bush (1982), and Spiro Agnew (1971)

Should Da Bears upset the Packers on Sunday, Obama will be making up for a missed opportunity. The last time the Bears made it to the Super Bowl, back in 2007, then-Sen. Obama could not make the trip to Miami as he was preparing to announce his candidacy for president in Springfield, Ill.