May 6, 2009

PITTSBURGH—Freedom High School, located just north of the Pitt campus, proved to be an exceptional launching pad for Jim Covert.

It was at Freedom where Covert, a future All-American at Pitt and All-Pro with the Chicago Bears, began to establish himself as a special, and dominant, athlete.

Before his matriculation to Pitt in 1978, Covert proved to be one of the best linemen to ever play high school football in Western Pennsylvania.

He was a first-team all-state performer for Freedom and also was an accomplished wrestler, pinning all but one opponent his senior year.

Fittingly, the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) will induct Covert into the WPIAL Hall of Fame this June. The announcement was made Tuesday at the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh.

The formal induction will occur June 19 at the WPIAL’s Third Annual Hall of Fame Banquet at the Embassy Suites in Moon Township.

This is Covert’s second Hall of Fame induction. In 2003, he was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

Following his stellar prep career at Freedom, Covert went on to an equally exceptional career at Pitt from 1978-82.

After beginning his collegiate career on the defensive line, Covert switched to offense his sophomore year in 1980 and was an offensive line starter his final three seasons. During that time, Pittsburgh went 31-5 (.861) with three consecutive Top 10 finishes. The 1980 and 1981 teams both went 11-1 and finished No. 2 in the national polls.

Covert allowed just three sacks his final three seasons, including zero as a senior. He was a consensus All-American in 1982 and played in the prestigious Hula Bowl and Senior Bowl games.

In 1983 he was a first-round draft selection (sixth player taken overall) of the Chicago Bears and quickly earned status as one of the NFL’s top offensive tackles. He was a consensus All-Rookie pick in 1983 and was the NFL’s Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1986. Covert was a vital part of Chicago’s famed 1985 team that captured Super Bowl XX. That squad was coached by another Panthers great, Mike Ditka. The late Walter Payton, who teamed with Covert throughout the 1980s, called him “the best offensive tackle in the NFL.”

–30–