Chicago Bears–Los Angeles Rams Trade History

Cleveland received Ed Wade and Vannie Albanese from Chicago in the August 1938 exchange for Lou Gordon. Albanese's NFL career ended in 1938, and the available evidence does not show a durable Cleveland payoff from the incoming package. The limited post-trade value supports the Rams' existing C+ grade in an exchange with little separation.

Chicago sent Tom Harmon's rights to Los Angeles on July 20, 1946 for Dante Magnani and Fred Davis; contemporary reporting does not support cash as part of the trade package. Magnani immediately started seven games and helped the 1946 champion Bears, while Davis became a multi-year Chicago tackle and Pro Bowl selection. That two-player return gives Chicago the stronger hindsight result.

Los Angeles and Chicago swapped Dante Magnani and Mike Holovak in January 1947. Magnani gave the Rams 20 games, four starts, 322 rushing yards and 85 receiving yards over two seasons. Holovak gave the Bears 23 games, eight starts, 509 rushing yards, 149 receiving yards and three rushing touchdowns. Both players contributed, but Chicago received the larger and more productive two-year return.

Chicago Bears received Larry Brink from Los Angeles Rams in the 1954-05-08 trade. Los Angeles acquired Bob Cross as a player-for-player return, giving the Rams a direct roster asset rather than a contingent or future consideration. Los Angeles Rams's return was Bob Cross / Bobby Cross. Chicago acquired Larry Brink, an established defensive lineman whose Bears tenure provided the more durable veteran contribution of the swap. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.

Chicago acquired Jesse Whittenton and Bob Carey from the Rams in February 1958 for tackle Kline Gilbert, but Gilbert retired and the compensation was changed to Chicago's 1959 fourth-round pick, No. 44 John Tracey. Whittenton never became a Bears contributor and Carey barely played, while Tracey provided little direct Rams value before another trade. The realized exchange grades evenly at C/C.

Chicago acquired veteran fullback Joe Marconi from the Rams for the 10th pick in the 1963 draft. Marconi immediately helped the Bears win the 1963 NFL championship, producing 781 yards from scrimmage, four touchdowns, and a Pro Bowl season. Los Angeles used the first-rounder on Rufus Guthrie, who never played an NFL regular-season game, creating a decisive realized-value advantage for Chicago.

Chicago sent veteran end John Adams to the Los Angeles Rams on May 1, 1963 for the 1964 second-round selection that became No. 21 Bill Martin. Adams started 10 of 13 games for Los Angeles in 1963 and caught nine passes for 93 yards before his NFL career ended. Martin played 28 games for Chicago across 1964 and 1965 and totaled 92 receiving yards, producing similarly modest short-term returns.

The Rams traded veteran halfback Jon Arnett to Chicago for Roger Davis, Frank Budka, Joe Wendryhoski and a 1965 fifth-round pick used on Frank Marchlewski. Arnett gave the Bears three seasons but never regained his earlier Pro Bowl form. Los Angeles received several usable pieces and greater aggregate roster value, making the Rams the winner without turning the deal into a landslide.

Los Angeles Rams received veteran defensive lineman Earl Leggett from Chicago Bears for 1967 fourth round pick (#95-Tom Greenlee) and 1967 eighth round pick (#200-Jerry Griffin). Leggett played 10 games for Los Angeles in 1966 and supplied four Approximate Value. Neither Greenlee nor Griffin appeared in an NFL regular-season game. The Rams received the only realized NFL contribution, supporting a Los Angeles Rams Win.

Chicago sent veteran safety Richie Petitbon to Los Angeles for cornerback Lee Calland, a 1970 fourth-round pick used on Ross Brupbacher, and a 1971 third-round pick used on Bob Newton. Petitbon remained a capable starter for two Rams seasons, but Chicago recovered a player plus two meaningful selections for a 31-year-old defender. That return gives the Bears the stronger overall value.

Chicago's official trade history dates the transaction to July 12, 1969: the Bears sent punter Jon Kilgore to Los Angeles for $1. Kilgore did not return to the Rams in regular-season play; his 1969 NFL work came with San Francisco. With Chicago receiving only token cash and Los Angeles receiving no on-field production, both sides grade D-minus.

Chicago Bears received the 1971 seventh-round pick, No. 176, from Los Angeles in the 1969-08-12 trade and used it on Dennis Ferris. Los Angeles acquired Dave McDaniels as the player return; his Rams tenure was limited and did not develop into a long-term role. Ferris did not establish a meaningful NFL regular-season career. Those outcomes support Los Angeles B, Chicago C+, and the existing Rams-win verdict.

Chicago moved veteran defensive lineman Dick Evey and a future fourth-round choice to Los Angeles and received Jim Seymour and Ron Smith. Evey's Rams stay lasted only one season, while the Bears gained two younger players and multiple chances to create roster value. Los Angeles later used the fourth-round selection on John Saunders, giving the Rams a useful additional asset despite Evey's short tenure.

Chicago's own trade history places the Jim Kirby-for-Buddy Lee swap on July 7, 1972. Kirby went from Los Angeles to Chicago, while Lee went from Chicago to the Rams. Neither player produced an NFL regular-season appearance for the receiving club, leaving the transaction as an even trade at D-minus for both sides.

Chicago Bears received Rich Buzin / Dick Buzin from Los Angeles Rams in the 1972-08-08 trade. Chicago acquired Rich Buzin, who appeared in two games for the Bears in 1972 without a start. Los Angeles Rams's return was 1973 seventh round pick (#161-Steve Brown (b)). Los Angeles received the 1973 seventh-round pick at No. 161. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.

Chicago sent guard Greg Horton to the Rams in April 1974 for 1975 third- and tenth-round draft choices. The third-round selection, No. 73, was later moved separately to San Diego for Cid Edwards; the sixth-round pick associated with Jim Harrison came from a different Bears-Chargers trade. Horton eventually became a useful Rams reserve, but Chicago's two-pick return gives the Bears a narrow C+ to C win.

Chicago received three seasons of useful backup quarterback play from Steve Fuller: 38 games, 11 starts, 1,823 passing yards and a 6-5 record as a fill-in starter, including three straight wins during the 1985 championship season. Los Angeles got no Rams games from Michael Harper and 51 games but only two starts from Mike Young. Fuller's greater direct impact supports Chicago Bears Win, B to C+.

Chicago acquired Doug Flutie's NFL rights and the Rams' 1987 fourth-round pick for its 1987 third- and sixth-round choices. Flutie played only four regular-season games for the Bears in 1986 plus one in 1987 before being traded to New England, while No. 101 Sean Smith had a short Bears career. The Rams leveraged No. 82 into more picks, including linebacker Larry Kelm, and also drafted Jon Embree at No. 166.

Chicago traded picks 18, 83 and 201 to St. Louis in 1996 for No. 13 and selected cornerback Walt Harris. Harris became a six-year Bears starter and later a Pro Bowler, giving Chicago meaningful value. The Rams drafted Eddie Kennison, Jerald Moore and Hayward Clay; Kennison had the strongest overall career but much of it came after St. Louis. The broader package gives the Rams a narrow win.

The Rams moved down two spots in the 1997 second round, sending No. 38 to Chicago for No. 40 and a sixth-round pick. St. Louis selected cornerback Dexter McCleon at No. 40, and he became a long-term starter who played 148 NFL games and won a Super Bowl with the Rams. Chicago selected John Allred, whose career was far more limited.

Chicago traded down from pick No. 104 in the 2000 draft, sending the selection to the Rams for Nos. 125, 150 and 225. Los Angeles used No. 104 on tackle Kaulana Noa, while Chicago used No. 125 on defensive back Reggie Austin and retained two additional pieces of draft capital. The Bears created slightly more aggregate value and earn a C+ to C win.

St. Louis acquired safety Kevin Payne from Chicago in April 2010 for a conditional 2011 draft choice. Payne was placed on injured reserve before the regular season and never appeared in a Rams game; the condition was not met and no pick was conveyed.

Chicago sent picks No. 50 and No. 150 to St. Louis to move up five spots for Alshon Jeffery. The Rams selected Isaiah Pead and Rokevious Watkins. Jeffery became a Pro Bowl receiver and produced more than 5,500 receiving yards in five Bears seasons, while Pead and Watkins supplied little sustained value in St. Louis. The gap between a true No. 1 receiver and two misses makes this a decisive Chicago win.

the Rams received 2016 4th round pick (117th overall, Pharoh Cooper), 2016 6th round pick (206th overall, Mike Thomas), while Chicago received 2016 4th round pick (113th overall, Nick Kwiatkoski). The hindsight grades are C for the Rams and B for Chicago. The verdict is grounded in the actual starts, production, tenure and downstream draft results produced by those assets.

Los Angeles moved down five spots in the fourth round on April 29, 2017, sending No. 112 to Chicago for Nos. 117 and 197. The Rams selected wide receiver Josh Reynolds at No. 117; over four Los Angeles seasons he played 64 regular-season games with 24 starts, catching 113 passes for 1,450 yards and nine touchdowns. The Rams then combined No. 197 with their own No. 141 to move up for linebacker Samson Ebukam, so the sixth-rounder also retained trade value without being solely responsible for Ebukam's acquisition.

Chicago acquired Jonah Jackson after his injury-shortened Rams season, while Los Angeles received the 2025 sixth-round pick that became No. 202. The Rams later combined No. 202 with No. 201 in a trade with Minnesota to reach No. 172 and select Chris Paul. Jackson's Bears tenure and the Rams' downstream draft return remain recent, leaving the deal evenly graded at C+ for both teams.

Chicago received Luke Newman, who has appeared in 10 regular-season games through Week 1 of 2026, plus the 2026 No. 129 pick that later helped the Bears trade for Nos. 124 and 166. Los Angeles used No. 148 on Ty Hamilton, now at 15 games with no starts and 12 tackles. The Bears retain a narrow hindsight edge, B- to C+.