Moments in NFL History: Nothing secret about these ‘Covert ops’
NFL
Published on : 3/21/2026
Not openly acknowledged or displayed.
That is how the dictionary defines “covert.”
Yet, if there is a person in NFL history who was the opposite of “covert” – plainly visible for all to see – it is none other than Hall of Famer No. 330, James Paul “Jimbo” Covert, who was born on this date (March 22).
JIMBO COVERT grew up in Conway, Pennsylvania, a town of fewer than 5,000 people. Attending Freedom Area High School and excelling at both wrestling and football, his obvious skills earned him a scholarship to play football at the University of Pittsburgh.
In Covert’s tenure at Pitt, the Panthers amassed a record of 31-5, highlighted by back-to-back seasons of 11-1 in 1980 and 1981. Many standout players contributed to that success, including future Hall of Famers RUSS GRIMM, RICKEY JACKSON and DAN MARINO.
“There were games when my uniform never got dirty,” Marino said about his line play at Pitt. “There were games when I never hit the ground. That’s incredible.”
Covert’s collegiate success led him straight to the Windy City and the Chicago Bears. He was selected sixth overall in the 1983 NFL Draft, and while making an immediate impact – earning the starting left tackle position – it wasn’t until his third year that the team reached the pinnacle of the sport.
The 1985 Bears posted a regular-season record of 15-1 and won Super Bowl XX, outscoring their opponents 91-10 in the postseason.
Covert would finish his career as a two-time Pro Bowler, two-time first-team All-Pro and a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1980s.
As with every professional athlete, his playing career would come to an end. For Covert, that meant football retirement after the 1990 season after playing in 111 career games. He quickly launched into his second career: health care.
“I was very fortunate to play in a great city like Chicago where I was able to meet and network with business owners and executives. I had a great mentor, Vern Loucks, former Chairman & CEO of Baxter International, who asked me to join Baxter, and that’s how my career got started,” Covert told the Hall of Fame. “I started my career in sales immediately upon retirement and was fortunate to advance in my career with increasing areas of responsibility.
“I was the president & CEO of the Institute for Transfusion Medicine from 2007 to 2017, and in 2019, I joined Cressey & Co. Private Equity, where we focus on partnering and building great companies exclusively in the health care space.”
Not only did Covert succeed in the health care field, he also found some success on the golf course. On March 7, 2026, he won the Pro Football Hall of Fame division at the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational in Boca Raton, Florida.
Did he think he was going to win?
“Absolutely not,” he replied.
In fact, Covert was going to pass on playing in this special tournament due to an injury but decided to join his Hall of Fame teammates and play.
“I am certainly no expert at golf,” quipped Covert. “I enjoy the game, and it’s a way to continue to compete.”
Covert won the two-round competition with a score of 1-under. He narrowly defeated fellow Hall of Famers LAWRENCE TAYLOR (+1), DeMARCUS WARE (+2), MARSHALL FAULK (+2), CRIS CARTER (+4) and DWIGHT FREENEY (+4). Covert is the second winner of the tournament, with Hall of Famer Tim Brown bringing home the trophy in 2025.
Jimbo’s victory on the links juxtaposes staying “covert.” His Hall of Fame career echoes this same sentiment.
This article from the Hall of Fame Communications Team is part of recurring series celebrating memorable moments in NFL history.
That is how the dictionary defines “covert.”
Yet, if there is a person in NFL history who was the opposite of “covert” – plainly visible for all to see – it is none other than Hall of Famer No. 330, James Paul “Jimbo” Covert, who was born on this date (March 22).
JIMBO COVERT grew up in Conway, Pennsylvania, a town of fewer than 5,000 people. Attending Freedom Area High School and excelling at both wrestling and football, his obvious skills earned him a scholarship to play football at the University of Pittsburgh.
In Covert’s tenure at Pitt, the Panthers amassed a record of 31-5, highlighted by back-to-back seasons of 11-1 in 1980 and 1981. Many standout players contributed to that success, including future Hall of Famers RUSS GRIMM, RICKEY JACKSON and DAN MARINO.
“There were games when my uniform never got dirty,” Marino said about his line play at Pitt. “There were games when I never hit the ground. That’s incredible.”
Covert’s collegiate success led him straight to the Windy City and the Chicago Bears. He was selected sixth overall in the 1983 NFL Draft, and while making an immediate impact – earning the starting left tackle position – it wasn’t until his third year that the team reached the pinnacle of the sport.
The 1985 Bears posted a regular-season record of 15-1 and won Super Bowl XX, outscoring their opponents 91-10 in the postseason.
Covert would finish his career as a two-time Pro Bowler, two-time first-team All-Pro and a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1980s.
As with every professional athlete, his playing career would come to an end. For Covert, that meant football retirement after the 1990 season after playing in 111 career games. He quickly launched into his second career: health care.
“I was very fortunate to play in a great city like Chicago where I was able to meet and network with business owners and executives. I had a great mentor, Vern Loucks, former Chairman & CEO of Baxter International, who asked me to join Baxter, and that’s how my career got started,” Covert told the Hall of Fame. “I started my career in sales immediately upon retirement and was fortunate to advance in my career with increasing areas of responsibility.
“I was the president & CEO of the Institute for Transfusion Medicine from 2007 to 2017, and in 2019, I joined Cressey & Co. Private Equity, where we focus on partnering and building great companies exclusively in the health care space.”
Not only did Covert succeed in the health care field, he also found some success on the golf course. On March 7, 2026, he won the Pro Football Hall of Fame division at the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational in Boca Raton, Florida.
Did he think he was going to win?
“Absolutely not,” he replied.
In fact, Covert was going to pass on playing in this special tournament due to an injury but decided to join his Hall of Fame teammates and play.
“I am certainly no expert at golf,” quipped Covert. “I enjoy the game, and it’s a way to continue to compete.”
Covert won the two-round competition with a score of 1-under. He narrowly defeated fellow Hall of Famers LAWRENCE TAYLOR (+1), DeMARCUS WARE (+2), MARSHALL FAULK (+2), CRIS CARTER (+4) and DWIGHT FREENEY (+4). Covert is the second winner of the tournament, with Hall of Famer Tim Brown bringing home the trophy in 2025.
Jimbo’s victory on the links juxtaposes staying “covert.” His Hall of Fame career echoes this same sentiment.
This article from the Hall of Fame Communications Team is part of recurring series celebrating memorable moments in NFL history.