Jimbo Covert in Pittsburgh for NFL Draft, supporting ALS ride

Freedom High School and University of Pittsburgh graduate Jimbo Covert returned to his hometown to announce a pick in the NFL Draft this week.The Hall of Fame offensive tackle teamed up with Coast 2 Coast 4 ALS. The 4,000-mile bicycle ride across the country raises money for research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.Covert’s friend and Chicago Bears teammate Steve “Mongo” McMichael was diagnosed with ALS and died from the disease in April 2025.”I got involved because I really thought that there was a connection between concussions, both in football and in the military, and neurological diseases like ALS and Parkinson’s, so I felt really strongly about that,” Covert said.Visit coast2coast4als.org to learn more about Coast 2 Coast 4 ALS.”They’re going to try to get me on a bike in Chicago. I haven’t ridden a bike in a long time,” Covert said. “Last time I rode a bike was here in Pittsburgh, my Schwinn Continental, riding up Cardiac Hill trying to get in shape.”They say you never forget how to ride a bike. I don’t know, we’ll see.”Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.

PITTSBURGH —

Freedom High School and University of Pittsburgh graduate Jimbo Covert returned to his hometown to announce a pick in the NFL Draft this week.

The Hall of Fame offensive tackle teamed up with Coast 2 Coast 4 ALS. The 4,000-mile bicycle ride across the country raises money for research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Covert’s friend and Chicago Bears teammate Steve “Mongo” McMichael was diagnosed with ALS and died from the disease in April 2025.

“I got involved because I really thought that there was a connection between concussions, both in football and in the military, and neurological diseases like ALS and Parkinson’s, so I felt really strongly about that,” Covert said.

Visit coast2coast4als.org to learn more about Coast 2 Coast 4 ALS.

“They’re going to try to get me on a bike in Chicago. I haven’t ridden a bike in a long time,” Covert said. “Last time I rode a bike was here in Pittsburgh, my Schwinn Continental, riding up Cardiac Hill trying to get in shape.

“They say you never forget how to ride a bike. I don’t know, we’ll see.”

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