TradeVerdicts records 4 trades between
Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions across 1936–1976. Historical
franchise identities are normalized to the current franchises here,
while each underlying trade keeps its own sourced date, assets,
grades, and verdict.
This page includes every public TradeVerdicts record in which both
current franchises participate. Multi-team trades remain in the
chronology when both clubs are part of the transaction.
The page is rendered at build time, so search engines and readers
can reach the full chronology without running the interactive
selector. The selector remains available for browsing any matchup.
Complete Matchup Chronology
4 Recorded Trades
Oldest to newest
Trade 1
September 18, 1936
Detroit Lions Win
Chicago BearsC
Detroit LionsB
Chicago Bears received
cash
Detroit Lions received
Joe Kopcha
Chicago sold guard Joe Kopcha to Detroit on September 18, 1936 for an undisclosed purchase price. The Bears received cash rather than a roster asset, while Kopcha immediately joined the defending champion Lions and appeared in 12 games with seven starts that season. Detroit obtained meaningful one-year line help, supporting the existing B-to-C edge and a Lions win.
historical unspecified consideration (identity not established)
Detroit Lions received
Dom Sigillo
Chicago sent veteran lineman Dom Sigillo to Detroit on August 18, 1945, but surviving evidence does not identify what the Bears received. John Schiechl was on Chicago's 1945 roster, yet no reviewed source ties his move to the Sigillo transaction as consideration. With Chicago's return unresolved and Sigillo playing eight games for Detroit, the deal cannot support a documented winner.
1973 first round pick (#19; traded to New England for Carl Garrett; Patriots selected Darryl Stingley)
Detroit Lions received
1973 first round pick (#17-Earnest Price)
1973 third round pick (#58-John Brady)
Detroit moved up from the No. 19 pick to No. 17 and also gained the No. 58 choice, sending tight end Craig Cotton to Chicago in the exchange. The Bears did not actually draft Darryl Stingley with No. 19; they moved that pick to New England for running back Carl Garrett, and the Patriots selected Stingley. Garrett's productive 1973 season gives Chicago the stronger realized return.
Chicago moved up to the No. 8 pick in the 1976 draft and selected tackle Dennis Lick, who became a multi-year starter for the Bears. That made the trade a productive move rather than a miss, but Detroit turned the exchanged selections into cornerback James Hunter and guard Russ Bolinger, producing two long-lasting NFL contributors from its side.
