Chicago Bears–New Orleans Saints Trade History

Chicago Bears received Don Croftcheck from New Orleans Saints for Doug Atkins and Herman Lee. Croftcheck played only nine games with two starts for Chicago. Across the complete player and draft outcomes, the exchange supports the New Orleans Saints Win verdict while still crediting the other club for the useful value it realized.

Chicago sent running back Andy Livingston to New Orleans in July 1969 and received the future second-round pick that became No. 28 in 1971. The Bears selected Jim Harrison, who played 38 games and made 29 starts for Chicago from 1971 through 1974. Harrison rushed for 1,099 yards as a Bear. His multi-season contribution gives Chicago a narrow edge over Livingston's strong but much shorter Saints run.

Chicago acquired defensive back George Youngblood from New Orleans for a 1970 fifth-round selection. Youngblood started all 14 games for the Bears in 1969, intercepted three passes, and returned one for a touchdown, so Chicago received immediate defensive production. New Orleans used the acquired No. 106 pick on Glenn Cannon, but that selection did not create comparable long-term value. The short duration of Youngblood’s career keeps the deal roughly even.

New Orleans traded tight end Jim Hester to Chicago for defensive end Loyd Phillips in March 1970. Phillips never appeared in a Saints regular-season game and medically retired after the trade because of a chronic vascular condition.

Chicago traded defensive back Jerry Moore to New Orleans in 1973 for the 1975 fifth-round pick that became guard Revie Sorey. Sorey developed into a major long-term return, playing 109 games with 77 starts for the Bears and becoming a fixture on the offensive line during Walter Payton's prime. Moore played 19 games over two Saints seasons, making Chicago the decisive winner.

Chicago obtained veteran center John Didion, while New Orleans received the 1976 seventh-round choice that became Ed Bauer. Didion's NFL career had effectively reached its end by the time of the exchange, and Bauer did not produce an NFL career from pick No. 201. The deal was a low-cost depth transaction with little lasting value on either side. Chicago took the immediate veteran option, while New Orleans deferred its return to the bottom of the next draft.

New Orleans acquired veteran defensive end Tommy Hart from Chicago on July 21, 1980 for past consideration. Hart played 15 games with 12 starts for the Saints in his final NFL season and was credited by the club with three sacks.

Chicago acquired Eddie Kennison from New Orleans for the 138th pick in the 2000 draft. Kennison started 10 games for the Bears that season and caught 55 passes for 549 yards and two touchdowns. New Orleans later traded the pick to Indianapolis and turned it into two later choices, including Michael Hawthorne. The Saints recovered some value, but Chicago received the strongest immediate production from the original exchange.

New Orleans moved up to pick No. 103 in the 2023 draft and selected guard Nick Saldiveri, sending Chicago picks No. 115 and No. 165. The Bears turned those selections into running back Roschon Johnson and cornerback Terell Smith. Both Chicago players supplied more sustained regular-season value than Saldiveri through the first three seasons, giving the Bears the stronger two-player return.