Former Michigan Wolverine safety Jordan Kovacs has been promoted to the role of secondary coach for the Cincinnati Bengals. Kovacs, an Ohio native, is entering his sixth year with the Bengals and has spent the last two as an assistant linebackers coach.
Interestingly, this means that Cincinnati is running with a Wolverine-dominated secondary. The Bengals were already starting D.J. Turner at cornerback and Daxton Hill at safety, and now have a former Michigan safety coaching the room.
Kovacs walked on to the Michigan football team in 2009 and contributed instantly. He recorded 75 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and one interception. He would play 12 or more games in each of his four years on the team and finish his career as a captain with a total of 334 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and five interceptions. Kovacs was voted second-team all-Big Ten following his senior campaign.
Unfortunately, Kovacs was not selected in the 2013 NFL draft but was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Miami Dolphins. He spent a year in South Florida before bouncing around the NFL for four seasons with the Eagles, Chiefs, Rams, and Dolphins (again). Kovacs recorded 11 tackles and one sack during his NFL career as a player.
At the conclusion of his playing career, the Wolverines offered Kovacs a position on staff in 2017 where he stayed for two seasons before departing for the NFL prior to the 2019 season. Kovacs was a defensive quality control coach until 2021 when he was promoted for the first time to assistant linebackers coach where he stayed for two more seasons.
Now, the former walk-on will have his own position group to look after… and one chock-full of former Wolverines. Perhaps the front office will see fit to give Kovacs more Michigan help and draft nickel cornerback Mike Sainristil in the upcoming 2024 NFL draft.