Indianapolis Colts–Los Angeles Chargers Trade History

Baltimore sent defensive tackle George Wright to San Diego and received the 1972 fourth-round pick used on Eric Allen plus the eighth-round pick used on Al Qualls. Both selections became concrete Colts draft assets, while Wright's Chargers stay was brief. San Diego later recovered a 1973 fifth-round choice by moving him to Cleveland, but Baltimore still created the stronger return from the original exchange.

Baltimore sent George Wright to San Diego and received a package that included the 1972 eighth-round pick used on Al Qualls, a 1973 fourth-round pick used on Ollie Smith, a 1973 eighth-round pick used on Ray Oldham, and other compensation described incompletely in the surviving record. The documented return gave Baltimore multiple assets, but the uncertain details and modest downstream results limit any clear separation.

Baltimore acquired quarterback Marty Domres from San Diego in August 1972 for tight end John Andrews and the 1973 first-round pick Baltimore had obtained from Washington. San Diego used that selection at No. 25 on Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers, while Domres became the Colts’ primary starter during a turbulent 1972 season.

Baltimore sent defensive back Leonard Dunlap to San Diego on September 4, 1972 for the Chargers' 1973 fourth-round selection. The Colts used that pick, No. 85, on receiver Ollie Smith. San Diego received immediate secondary depth from Dunlap, but his Chargers impact was not substantial enough to outweigh Baltimore's clean conversion of the veteran into a defined mid-round asset.

San Diego acquired Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas from Baltimore on January 22, 1973 for future considerations that later records describe as cash, commonly reported as $150,000. Unitas played five games with four starts for the Chargers, going 1-3 while throwing for 471 yards, three touchdowns and seven interceptions. He was replaced by rookie Dan Fouts and retired after the season, making the acquisition far more important historically than competitively.

Baltimore acquired San Diego's 1973 eighth-round pick, No. 189, and used it on defensive back Ray Oldham in exchange for veteran Tom Matte. Oldham became a multi-season Colts contributor with meaningful starting time, while Matte did not provide San Diego regular-season value after the transaction. The conversion of a retiring veteran into years of defensive depth makes this a clear Colts win.

Baltimore sent tight end Ron Mayo to San Diego on July 29, 1975, and received a sixth-round selection in the 1976 draft. Chargers club records consistently identify the compensation as a sixth-round pick, resolving the earlier round uncertainty. Mayo did not appear in a regular-season game for San Diego, while the exact player ultimately produced by Baltimore’s pick remains unidentified, leaving little demonstrated value on either side.

Baltimore acquired Joe Washington and a 1979 fifth-round pick from San Diego. Washington immediately rushed for a career-high 958 yards in 1978, then led the NFL with 82 receptions in 1979 while adding 884 rushing yards. The fifth-round asset later helped Baltimore acquire quarterback Greg Landry, giving the Colts both high-end immediate production and additional transaction value.

Baltimore acquired kicker Mike Wood from San Diego on August 31, 1981 for a 1983 sixth-round pick. Wood handled the Colts' kicking job for all 16 games in 1981 and six more in 1982. The Chargers used No. 141 in 1983 on receiver Trumaine Johnson, who later played two seasons for San Diego and caught 34 passes for 450 yards and two touchdowns. Both received value, with the Chargers holding the edge.

Baltimore traded veteran safety Bruce Laird to San Diego in May 1982 for a 1983 sixth-round pick. Laird gave the Chargers 23 games over two seasons and started six times in the strike-shortened 1982 season. The Colts used No. 161 on center Grant Feasel, who appeared in 17 games for Baltimore and Indianapolis without a start before continuing his career elsewhere. San Diego received the better direct return.

Indianapolis sent quarterback Mark Herrmann to San Diego on March 27, 1985, for a 1986 tenth-round pick that became No. 266 and guard Pete Anderson. Herrmann gave the Chargers three seasons of backup quarterback value, including 1,537 passing yards and 10 touchdowns in 1985. Anderson never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. San Diego clearly received the stronger realized return from a low-cost exchange.

Indianapolis traded linebacker Vernon Maxwell to San Diego on August 1, 1985 for a 1986 fifth-round pick. The Colts later used that selection, No. 124 overall, on center Gary Walker. Walker never became a contributor for Indianapolis, but the Colts at least converted an expendable player into meaningful draft capital. That matters because Maxwell did not survive San Diego’s final preseason cuts.

San Diego sent quarterback Mark Herrmann back to Indianapolis in April 1988 for a late 1989 draft choice. Chargers historical records identify the compensation as an eleventh-round pick, not a conditional selection that disappeared. Herrmann did not survive the Colts' final 1988 roster decisions and soon joined the Rams, leaving Indianapolis without regular-season value. San Diego at least secured draft capital, producing a modest C+ to D+ Chargers win.

Indianapolis sent defensive back Leonard Coleman to San Diego on July 8, 1988 for a 1990 twelfth-round pick. That selection became No. 311, Gene Benhart, who did not establish an NFL career. Coleman gave the Chargers immediate veteran depth and appeared during the 1988 season. The return was modest on both sides, but San Diego received the more useful direct value.

Indianapolis acquired linebacker Chip Banks from San Diego on October 17, 1989 for a conditional pick that became the 67th selection in 1990, wide receiver Walter Wilson. Banks started 51 games for the Colts across four seasons and finished his Indianapolis tenure with a nine-sack 1992 season. Wilson played 14 games with five starts and 87 receiving yards for the Chargers, leaving Indianapolis clearly ahead.