Catching Up with Pittsburgh Legend Jimbo Covert

Jim “Jimbo” Covert anchored some of the most dominant offensive lines in Pittsburgh Panthers history.

During his three years as a starter, the Pitt Panthers achieved an impressive record of 31 wins and 5 losses. Both the 1980 and 1981 seasons featured an 11-1 record, with the team reaching as high as No. 2 in the national rankings.

After his final season at Pitt, Covert participated in the prestigious Hula Bowl and Senior Bowl all-star games before being selected as the sixth overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.

He played a significant role in the Chicago Bears' legendary Super Bowl-winning team in 1985.

Covert spent eight seasons with the Bears from 1983 to 1990. During his career, he earned All-Pro honors four times, was selected to the first-team All-NFL twice, and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1980s. In January 2020, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

It was a great honor to reconnect with Jimbo Covert!

Craig: Why was Pitt the right place for you?

Jimbo: I was very fortunate to play there when Pitt was very successful. We had some great players at that time. When you think about Tony Dorsett going there in 1973, the program took off like a rocketship. When I was looking at schools, I could've gone pretty much anywhere I wanted, but I fell in love with Pitt. I loved the tradition; the guys and I wanted to be part of the thing that Tony started. It was the best decision I ever made.

Craig: For you personally, it was really that 1980 season where you switched positions, got healthy from a shoulder injury and became dominant.

Jimbo: I was frustrated when I first came in as a defensive lineman. I wanted to play defense. I thought I had the ability to play on that side of the ball, I still think that. There was just a crowd there of some really great players. I didn't play much as a freshman. The following year I redshirted because of my shoulder, and then it was Joe Moore who asked me if I wanted to switch to offense. After my first practice at left tackle, Coach Moore said I was going to be an All-American someday. After that, I would've done anything for the guy. I think Joe Moore is the best offensive line coach of all time.

Craig: Mark May told me that there were entire games at Pitt where he never even touched the ground during four quarters of football. That's how dominant you guys were.

Jimbo: Joe taught that. Joe didn't want you to cut anybody or do that stuff. He just wanted for you to run people over and bury guys. I owe Joe everything. I also learned a ton from Russ Grimm. I roomed with Russ on the road, and he taught me so much. He helped the transition to offense, especially that first summer.

Craig: With the NFL Draft rapidly approaching, I think back to your going to Chicago in 1983. That 83' Draft for the Bears was what really put them over the hump in becoming the World Champions in 1985. They grabbed you, Mark Bortz, Tom Thayer, fellow HOF'er Richard Dent, Willie Gault, Dave Duerson and Mike Richardson. All of these guys became starters.

Jimbo: I think you're right. There were some great players there already. Of course, Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, Keith Van Horne. On defense there was Hampton, McMichael, Singletary, Fencik, and Les Frazier, these were great players. When you added our 83' class, that was the final ingredient that the Bears needed to get over the hump. We weren't that good at the beginning of 1983, but we steadily improved, winning five of our last six games. We had momentum going into 1984, reached the NFC Championship Game but Jim McMahon had gotten hurt back in November so to just get there was quite an accomplishment.

Craig: I maintain that your Bears teams would've won at least one more Super Bowl if it hadn't been for the cheap shot by Charles Martin on McMahon.

Jimbo: Jim never got right after that. It was terrible. These days, they would've suspended a guy for an entire year for a hit like that. It was crazy. It should've never happened. I really believe we would've won it again if that play doesn’t happen.

Craig: Are you surprised that your Pittsburgh teammate Dan Marino only went to one Super Bowl?

Jimbo: Yes and no. It's a team game. Everybody forgets that. You can't do it by yourself. We were a 50-yard FG away from going 15-1 in 1986, but the Rams beat us late on MNF. No one in the history of the NFL has ever done that two years in a row. You can have a great player as Dan was, but you need all 22 starters to win a championship and then the other guys too.