Trade 1
July 24, 1978
Washington Commanders received Jeff Williams.
NFL Trade History
Jeff Williams NFL Trade History
TradeVerdicts connects Jeff Williams to 5 exact public NFL transactions involving Los Angeles Rams, Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Chargers, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, and Chicago Bears.
5 Recorded trades
6 Teams represented
1978–1983 Trade-history span
Teams in this profile: Los Angeles Rams Washington Commanders Los Angeles Chargers Cleveland Browns San Francisco 49ers Chicago Bears
Player Transaction Context
Why Jeff Williams Appears in the Trade Database
This profile follows Jeff Williams across 5 recorded transactions from July 24, 1978 through May 16, 1983. Each connection below comes from the database relationship for that transaction rather than a name-only search.
Trade 2
May 15, 1981
Los Angeles Chargers received Jeff Williams.
Trade 3
October 6, 1981
San Francisco 49ers received 1983 ninth round pick (#235) [later traded with 1983 twelfth round pick (#313-Oliver Williams) to Chicago Bears for Jeff Williams].
Trade 4
April 26, 1983
Chicago Bears received Jeff Williams (returned after failed San Francisco physical).
Trade 5
May 16, 1983
Chicago Bears received Jeff Williams (returned after failed San Francisco physical).
Across this profile, the recorded verdicts are Washington Redskins Win; Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers Win; Cleveland Browns Win; San Francisco 49ers Win. The timeline spans 1978–1983 and 6 represented teams.
How to Read This Profile
Trade History Overview
Every transaction below comes from an explicit player-to-trade relationship in the TradeVerdicts database. Name-only substring matching is not used.
The cards summarize the date, teams, assets, grades, and verdict. Open the full trade page for the complete analysis and sourcing context. Grading standards are explained in the TradeVerdicts methodology.
Chronological Timeline
5 Recorded Trades
Trade 1 of 5
Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders
Los Angeles received defensive back Eddie Brown and a 1981 seventh-round pick in a broad July 1978 exchange. Brown gave the Rams useful immediate value, including a productive 1979 season and postseason contributions, but the Rams surrendered several players and premium future choices. The return was real, yet not large enough to match Washington’s deeper package.
Assets Received
Los Angeles Rams
- Player (Paul) Eddie Brown
- Pick 1981 seventh round pick (#175-Ron Battle)
Washington Commanders
- Player Donnie Hickman
- Player Jeff Williams
- Pick 1979 third round pick (#80; later dealt through Miami and Oakland to Tampa Bay, which used it on Rick Berns)
- Pick 1980 second round pick (#55-Mat Mendenhall)
- Pick 1980 fifth round pick (#137-Kenny Johnson)
Team Grades
Trade 2 of 5
Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders
The Chargers acquired Jeff Williams from Washington in exchange for Wilbur Young on May 15, 1981. The verified package was a clean two-player swap, not a deal involving extra consideration. Los Angeles received the stronger realized return, while Washington's side produced less lasting value. The Chargers therefore deserve the win once the transaction identifiers are cleaned up around the correct package.
Assets Received
Los Angeles Chargers
- Player Jeff Williams
Washington Commanders
- Player Wilbur Young
Team Grades
Trade 3 of 5
Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers
Cleveland acquired kicker Matt Bahr from San Francisco in October 1981 for a 1983 ninth-round draft choice. Bahr became a long-term Browns fixture, playing 115 games for Cleveland and entering 1990 as the franchise's all-time leader in field-goal percentage. San Francisco later moved the late pick in another transaction, but the original return never approached Bahr's nine-season value. Cleveland earns a strong A- to C win.
Assets Received
San Francisco 49ers
- Pick 1983 ninth round pick (#235) [later traded with 1983 twelfth round pick (#313-Oliver Williams) to Chicago Bears for Jeff Williams]
Cleveland Browns
- Player Matt Bahr
Team Grades
Trade 4 of 5
Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco's April 26, 1983 trade for guard Jeff Williams was unwound after Williams failed the 49ers' physical. Chicago had already received 1983 picks No. 235 and No. 313, used on Mark Zavagnin and Oliver Williams. On May 16 the clubs resolved the failed trade by returning Williams to Chicago and awarding San Francisco 1984 ninth- and twelfth-round choices, later Nos. 239 and 320. The 49ers used No. 320 to acquire punter Tom Orosz, who played 18 games for San Francisco across 1983-84.
Assets Received
Chicago Bears
- Pick 1983 ninth round pick (#235-Mark Zavagnin)
- Pick 1983 twelfth round pick (#313-Oliver Williams)
- Player Jeff Williams (returned after failed San Francisco physical)
San Francisco 49ers
- Pick 1984 ninth round pick (#239-Lee Miller; settlement)
- Pick 1984 twelfth round pick (#320; settlement, later traded to Miami for Tom Orosz)
Team Grades
Trade 5 of 5
Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco returned guard Jeff Williams to Chicago on May 16, 1983 after he failed the 49ers' physical and received Bears ninth- and twelfth-round selections in the 1984 draft as settlement. Those became No. 239 Lee Miller and No. 320. Miller never recorded an NFL regular-season appearance, but San Francisco traded No. 320 to Miami for punter Tom Orosz, who handled all 16 regular-season games for the 49ers in 1983 and two more in 1984.
Assets Received
San Francisco 49ers
- Pick 1984 ninth round pick (#239-Lee Miller)
- Pick 1984 twelfth round pick (#320, later traded to Miami for Tom Orosz)
Chicago Bears
- Player Jeff Williams (returned after failed San Francisco physical)