Kovacs won the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix with his first 70-foot throw. He then placed 3rd at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships with a throw of . On June 25, 2014 Joe Kovacs won the 2014 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at a special venue in front of the California State Capitol, with a personal best of 22.03m (72' 3.5"), the top throw in the world for 2014.