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The Worst Trade For Every NFL Team In History

By Erik Lambert

31 Dec 1995: Quarterback Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers avoid pressure during a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers won the game 37-20. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport
31 Dec 1995: Quarterback Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers avoid pressure during a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers won the game 37-20. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport /
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Steve Young #8, Quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers feeds the ball to Running Back #32 James Wilder during the American Football Conference West game against the Los Angeles Rams on 5 October 1986 at the Anaheim Stadium, Los Angeles, California, United States. The Rams won the game 26 – 20. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images)
Steve Young #8, Quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers feeds the ball to Running Back #32 James Wilder during the American Football Conference West game against the Los Angeles Rams on 5 October 1986 at the Anaheim Stadium, Los Angeles, California, United States. The Rams won the game 26 – 20. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images) /

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

QB. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Steve Young . 30. player. 48.

Anytime you give up a Hall of Fame quarterback, it’s going to go down in history as the worst trade ever. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a disastrous track record of handling great quarterbacks since their inception. They dumped Doug Williams in 1983 despite three playoff appearances over a contract dispute. Yet that paled in comparison to their blunder four years later.

They were fortunate to land former BYU star and USFL standout Steve Young when the latter folded in 1985. He became their starter during that season. Many thought big things were ahead. There was one problem. The team was terrible. They had no true weapons and a pourous offensive line. Young took a beating for two years and had 11 touchdowns with 21 interceptions.

Did the Buccaneers work diligently to change that? Did they replace the coaching staff, add more weapons and improve the blocking as teams would do today? Nope. They just scrapped the plan and started over. They traded Young to the San Francisco 49ers for 2nd and 4th round picks and replaced him with Vinny Testaverde.

Young went on to greatness in San Francisco, winning two MVPs and a Super Bowl in 1994.

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