The aphorism was coined by the Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Don Meredith, who became a sports commentator for Monday Night Football in 1970.

17 December 1970,

Howard Cosell: “If Los Angeles wins, it’s a big one, but San Francisco is still very much in it.”
Don Meredith: “If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a merry Christmas.”
Howard: “I didn’t think you’d remember that old canard.”
Don: “Is that what it was?”


The 1970 quip soon became Meredith's catchphrase, but it was a modern and comical twist on a much older proverb dating from the 19th century

“If ifs and ands were pots and pans, there’d be no work for tinkers’ hands”