Chicago Bears–Philadelphia Eagles Trade History

Philadelphia used the first NFL draft to select Heisman Trophy winner Jay Berwanger, then traded his rights to Chicago for tackle Art Buss before the league meeting ended on February 8, 1936. Berwanger never signed an NFL contract and never played a professional game. Buss, by contrast, became a full-time Eagles tackle, starting all 23 games he played for Philadelphia in 1936 and 1937.

Philadelphia acquired veteran end Bill Hewitt and $4,000 in cash from Chicago on February 15, 1937, sending the rights to first-overall draft pick Sam Francis to the Bears. Hewitt became an All-NFL performer for the Eagles, while Francis had a shorter four-season NFL career. The existing C grade reflects Philadelphia's useful but limited return.

Chicago acquired the rights to George McAfee and Joe Mihal from Philadelphia on February 15, 1940 for veteran linemen Russ Thompson and Milt Trost. McAfee became a Hall of Fame two-way star and helped the Bears win NFL championships in 1940, 1941 and 1946. Later accounts sometimes fold separate Bears-Eagles moves into this deal, but the direct February transaction identifies these four principals.

Philadelphia received guard Dick Bassi and end Les McDonald from Chicago in the 1940 deal tied to Johnny Schiechl's rights. Chicago received Schiechl's rights plus Philadelphia's 1941 first-round pick if Schiechl failed to report. He did not report, so the condition triggered and the Bears used the No. 1 overall selection on Tom Harmon.

On 1958-08-02, Chicago Bears received 1959 seventh-round draft pick, while Philadelphia Eagles received Ed Meadows. The hindsight verdict is Philadelphia Eagles Win, with Chicago Bears graded C and Philadelphia Eagles graded B. The evaluation credits only the consideration that can be traced confidently and keeps uncertain pick details out of the final judgment.

Chicago Bears received Bobby Jackson from Philadelphia Eagles in the 1961-09-01 trade. Philadelphia received the 1962 sixth-round pick and selected Gus Gonzales at No. 77. Philadelphia Eagles's return was 1962 sixth round pick (#77-Gus Gonzales). Chicago acquired Bobby Jackson, but the player return did not develop into a long-term Bears contributor. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.

Chicago Bears received Jack Concannon, 1968 fourth round pick (#106-Alan Bush) from Philadelphia Eagles in the 1967-04-26 trade. Chicago received Jack Concannon plus the 1968 fourth-round pick. Philadelphia Eagles's return was Mike Ditka. Philadelphia acquired Mike Ditka. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.

Philadelphia sent Dave McDaniels to Chicago on July 31, 1969 for the Bears' 1970 seventh-round pick, No. 158, which Philadelphia used on Terry Brennan. McDaniels stayed with Chicago only briefly before the Bears moved him to the Rams in August. Brennan did not produce an NFL regular-season career, so neither side realized substantial direct value from the original exchange.

Chicago Bears received Philadelphia's 1973 fifth-round pick, No. 107, in the 1971-07-21 trade and used it on Allan Ellis. Philadelphia received the rights to Ronnie Bull, who played one season for the Eagles. Ellis became a long-term Chicago starter and Pro Bowler. Those realized outcomes support the authorized Chicago B, Philadelphia C grades and a Chicago Bears Win verdict.

Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles completed this trade on 1971-09-13. Pinder gave Chicago two seasons of usable rushing production, so the Bears did not come away empty. Philadelphia nevertheless converted one veteran back into two meaningful draft assets, including a second-round selection. The post-trade results provide the clearest measure of what each club gained from the exchange. The historical return supports a Philadelphia Eagles Win verdict, with Chicago Bears graded C+ and Philadelphia Eagles graded B.

Chicago Bears received Mel Tom from Philadelphia Eagles in the 1973-10-16 trade. Philadelphia received the 1974 fifth-round pick used on Jim Cagle at No. 108. Philadelphia Eagles's return was 1974 fifth round pick (#108-Jim Cagle). Chicago acquired Mel Tom, a veteran defensive end, giving the Bears the immediate player side of the exchange but not a long-term core piece. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.

Philadelphia Eagles received Charlie Ford; Chicago Bears received Richard Harris. Ford played six games for Philadelphia in 1974 without a start before leaving the Eagles. Harris played 26 games with 11 starts for Chicago across 1974-75 and recorded three sacks. The realized outcomes support Chicago Bears Win, with Philadelphia Eagles graded C and Chicago Bears graded B-.

Philadelphia turned veteran guard Mark Nordquist into two future draft choices, then converted those picks into running backs Mike Hogan and Wilbert Montgomery. Hogan started immediately and produced three useful seasons in Philadelphia, while Montgomery became a two-time Pro Bowler and one of the defining Eagles runners of his era. That extraordinary downstream return makes this a decisive Philadelphia win.

Philadelphia traded Terry Tautolo to Chicago during the 1980 preseason for a 1981 conditional draft choice. Available contemporary reporting establishes the draft-choice consideration, although surviving public sources do not cleanly resolve the exact round or whether every condition was ultimately triggered. The Eagles still moved a player Chicago released before the season, making Philadelphia’s decision the more efficient side of the exchange.

Philadelphia acquired the 81st pick in the 1989 draft from Chicago and selected linebacker Britt Hager, sending the Bears seven picks from rounds five through twelve. Hager played six seasons for the Eagles, appearing in 90 games and starting 13. Chicago's large return produced some useful depth, led by Mark Green, but no single acquired player matched Hager's sustained Philadelphia contribution, giving the Eagles the edge.

Chicago sent defensive back Deiondre' Hall to Philadelphia on September 1, 2018 for a conditional 2019 seventh-round pick. The condition was satisfied and the selection became No. 222 overall, which Chicago used on running back Kerrith Whyte. Whyte did not appear in a regular-season game for the Bears before being waived in September 2019, so the pick produced little direct return for Chicago.

Chicago moved Jordan Howard for a conditional 2020 selection that became sixth-round pick No. 200. The Bears did not simply draft Quez Watkins with it; they later bundled No. 200 in a multi-pick exchange with Philadelphia. Howard, meanwhile, produced 525 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns in 10 Eagles games during 2019. Chicago retained useful draft-trade leverage, but Philadelphia received the stronger directly traceable football return and wins the deal in hindsight.

Chicago moved up to No. 173 and selected Darnell Mooney, also receiving pick No. 227, while Philadelphia collected three later selections that became Shaun Bradley, Quez Watkins and Casey Toohill. Mooney quickly became a starting receiver and posted a 1,000-yard season in 2021. Philadelphia found role players, but none matched Mooney's sustained offensive production, leaving the Bears with the stronger return.

Chicago traded veteran pass rusher Robert Quinn to Philadelphia on October 26, 2022 for a 2023 fourth-round pick that became No. 133 overall, Tyler Scott. Quinn was nearing the end of his Bears tenure, and Chicago converted him into a young receiver. Scott did not become an immediate star, but securing a fourth-round asset for a veteran who produced little after the trade gave the Bears the stronger transaction value.

Philadelphia moved from No. 10 to No. 9 and selected Jalen Carter, while Chicago received the No. 10 pick used on Darnell Wright plus the 2024 fourth-round pick used on Tory Taylor. Carter became a disruptive interior cornerstone for the Eagles, and Wright developed into a high-end right tackle for the Bears. Both teams converted a one-slot draft move into premium long-term value.