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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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Chicago Bears

6. player. 57. . LB. Chicago Bears. Chuck Howley

There were two notable trades that stood out for the Chicago Bears they likely wish they’d handled differently. The first, where they traded Bobby Layne after just one year seemed like the obvious choice but it’s easy to forget they already had a Pro Bowler at the position in Johnny Lujack. He seemed to have a long career ahead of him. So trading Layne made sense.

That’s why the Chuck Howley move gets the nod here. One of the hardest things to have in sports is patience. Sometimes players don’t get off to the fast start teams want them to. It takes an adjustment period for them to find their stride. Chicago spent three years waiting for Howley to get going but injuries continued to set him back.

Finally, head coach George Halas couldn’t wait any longer. He sent the linebacker to Dallas in exchange for 2nd and 9th round picks. It was there that Howley finally got things settled. He would become a starter on one of the best defenses of the era, helping the Cowboys reach their first two Super Bowls in 1970 and 1971, winning a championship during the latter.

Howley retired with six Pro Bowls and 25 career interceptions. It’s fair to wonder what might’ve happened if the Bears waited just one more year and ended up pairing him with Dick Butkus who arrived in 1965.

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