By Darin 
How do you transition from a defensive bench-warmer to the most dominant left tackle of a decade? For Jimbo Covert, the answer was a mix of Western Pennsylvania grit and a career-defining position switch. At the University of Pittsburgh, he anchored one of the most talented offensive lines in college history, protecting legends like Dan Marino. In the pros, he became the primary bodyguard for Walter Payton and the “blindside” protector for the 1985 Chicago Bears. From Conway to Canton, Covert’s journey is a masterclass in technical excellence and the raw power of the “Steel Curtain” era.
Football Bio
March 22, 1960 – Conway, Pennsylvania – The University of Pittsburgh’s big offensive tackle, Jimbo Covert, arrived in this life. His bio on the FootballFoundation site says that Covert joined the Pitt team as a defensive lineman.
Jimbo was skilled at the position, but the Panthers were loaded with talent there. An injury in his second year gave him some time to think, and he asked his coaches if he could switch to play offensive line instead, in an attempt to get on the field more. What a great choice it was for all involved as Covert became a starter on the same line as Mark May and Bill Fralic. Pitt was on fire with offensive firepower.
The Panthers posted two consecutive 11-1 seasons, finishing as the nation’s second-ranked team each time. In his three seasons at tackle, he allowed only three sacks, none as a senior. His sacks allowed statistic is even more remarkable given that Pitt averaged 34 passes a game. That year, he became a unanimous All-America after his first team All-America season in 1981.
The National Football Foundation council approved the name of Jimbo Covert for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003. The Chicago Bears picked Jimbo sixth overall in the 1983 NFL Draft, and in nine seasons, he twice made the Pro Bowl, was an All-Pro twice, and led the Bears to Super Bowl XX victory. The Offensive Lineman of the Year went to Covert in 1986. Jimbo Covert was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
Conclusion
Jimbo Covert wasn’t just an offensive tackle; he was a strategic advantage. His remarkable collegiate stat of allowing only three sacks while protecting a high-volume passing attack proved he was a generational talent before he ever wore a Bears jersey. In Chicago, he was the linchpin of a front five that led the NFL in rushing for four straight seasons, a feat that allowed Walter Payton to cement his own legendary status. Though injuries shortened his career, Covert’s dominance during the 1980s was so absolute that his place in both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame was never a question of “if,” but “when.”
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2020 (Centennial Class).
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2003.
- Super Bowl Champion: XX (Chicago Bears).
- NFL 1980s All-Decade Team: Selected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year: 1986 (Miller Lite/NFLPA).
- 2× First-team All-Pro: 1985, 1986.
- 2× Pro Bowl Selection: 1985, 1986.
- Unanimous First-Team All-American: 1982 (University of Pittsburgh).
- First-Team All-American: 1981.
- NFL All-Rookie Team: 1983.
- Sacks Allowed Record: Allowed zero sacks during his senior season at Pitt.
- Pitt Panthers Retired Jersey: His #75 was retired in 2015.
