Chicago Bears–San Francisco 49ers Trade History

Chicago turned J.R. Boone into a conditional 1953 sixth-rounder that conveyed at No. 68 and became Kline Gilbert. Gilbert started all 60 games he played for the Bears from 1953 through 1957 and earned a Pro Bowl selection in his final season. Boone gave San Francisco one productive year with 461 receiving yards, but Gilbert’s five-year starting run gives Chicago the stronger return and an A- grade.

Chicago Bears received Preston Powell from San Francisco 49ers in the 1962-07-01 trade. Chicago acquired Preston Powell, but NFL records show his only regular-season season was with Cleveland in 1961; he did not create a Bears regular-season return. San Francisco 49ers's return was 1963 fifth round pick (#66-Gary Moeller). San Francisco received the fifth-round pick used on Gary Moeller at No. 66. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.

Chicago Bears received 1963 fourth round pick (#49-Stan Sanders) from San Francisco 49ers in the 1962-08-30 trade. San Francisco acquired John Mellekas, who appeared in 11 games and started two for the 1962 49ers. San Francisco 49ers's return was John Mellekas. Chicago received the fourth-round pick used on Stan Sanders at No. 49. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.

Chicago Bears received Howard Mudd, who played 18 games with 11 starts across 1969-70 before his playing career ended. The team earns a C, compared with B+ for San Francisco 49ers, and the hindsight verdict is San Francisco 49ers Win. That judgment reflects the concrete team-specific production, role and tenure created by the assets in this deal.

Chicago Bears received Bill Tucker from San Francisco 49ers in the 1971-09-13 trade. Chicago acquired Bill Tucker. San Francisco 49ers's return was 1973 fifth round pick (#112-Mike Fulk). San Francisco received the 1973 fifth-round pick and selected linebacker Mike Fulk at No. 112. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.

Chicago acquired wide receiver John Wiegmann from San Francisco on July 19, 1973 for $1. Bears trade histories preserve the nominal purchase price, but Wiegmann does not appear on Chicago's 1973 regular-season roster, so the club received no documented regular-season playing value from the move.

On 1974-08-14, Chicago Bears received John Isenbarger and Dick Witcher, while San Francisco 49ers received Cecil Turner. The hindsight verdict is Even Trade, with Chicago Bears graded D and San Francisco 49ers graded D. The evaluation follows the documented consideration and traceable football value, while leaving unresolved downstream pick identities out of the judgment.

Chicago Bears received Larry Schreiber from San Francisco 49ers in the 1976-09-04 trade. Schreiber played all 14 games for Chicago in 1976 as a reserve, totaling 15 rushing yards and 16 receiving yards. San Francisco received the 1978 fifth-round pick used on Archie Reese, who became a multi-year 49ers starter. Those outcomes support San Francisco B, Chicago C, and a 49ers win.

San Francisco acquired quarterback Pat Sullivan's contract rights from Chicago in 1977 for cash consideration of an unidentified amount. Sullivan did not produce regular-season value for the 49ers. Chicago therefore received the only verified realized return, although the unknown cash amount keeps that advantage modest. The supported outcome is a Chicago Bears win, C-plus to C.

Chicago acquired veteran defensive end Tommy Hart from San Francisco on April 20, 1978 for the 47th overall pick. Hart started all 16 games for the Bears that season and produced an estimated 7.5 sacks, then returned for 15 more games in 1979. Chicago received immediate defensive help, but the 49ers used the pick on Walt Downing, who stayed in San Francisco for six seasons and offered the longer return.

Chicago moved from No. 40 to No. 38 in the 1981 draft and selected Mike Singletary, the future Hall of Fame middle linebacker who made 10 consecutive Pro Bowls and won two Defensive Player of the Year awards. San Francisco still received enormous value at No. 40 with cornerback Eric Wright, a two-time Pro Bowler and four-time Super Bowl champion. The Bears win, but both teams struck gold.

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.

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.

San Francisco reacquired linebacker Tony Peterson from Chicago for the No. 217 pick in the 1998 draft. Peterson played 28 regular-season games over the next two 49ers seasons, while Chicago used the seventh-round selection on Chad Overhauser, who never appeared in a Bears regular-season game.

Chicago got no regular-season games from Frank Murphy, but its No. 209 pick became one half of a two-pick package that produced three later selections. That package helped bring punter Brent Bartholomew for seven games and safety Mike Green, who played 81 Bears games with 45 starts. Because No. 225 was also required, No. 209 gets only proportional credit. San Francisco received 18 reserve games from John Milem. Chicago edges it, C+ to C.

Chicago Bears received R.W. McQuarters; San Francisco 49ers received 2001 sixth-round pick No. 169, Cedrick Wilson. McQuarters played five seasons for Chicago, starting 47 games from 2000-04 and recording nine interceptions. Wilson played four seasons for San Francisco, catching 97 passes for 1,203 yards and six touchdowns from 2002-04, and started 15 games in 2004. The realized returns support Even Trade, with Chicago Bears graded B- and San Francisco 49ers graded B-.

Chicago Bears received Leon Joe and Claude Harriott; Joe played 24 games in two Chicago stints with modest defensive/special-teams production, while Harriott was released before the 2004 regular season and never played an NFL regular-season game. The team earns a C-, compared with B+ for San Francisco 49ers, and the hindsight verdict is San Francisco 49ers Win. That judgment reflects the concrete team-specific production, role and tenure created by the assets in this deal.

San Francisco moved down only one spot in the 2017 draft and collected Chicago’s third- and fourth-round picks plus a 2018 third-rounder. The 49ers still selected Solomon Thomas at No. 3, while later value from the package connected directly to Fred Warner. Thomas never met his draft billing, but gaining multiple selections for allowing Chicago to move from third to second gave San Francisco a substantial value advantage.