Kansas City Chiefs–New York Jets Trade History

Kansas City received Bobby Ply and got six seasons of useful secondary depth: 73 games for the Texans/Chiefs, eight starts and nine interceptions, including seven picks during the 1962 AFL championship season. New York got no regular-season games from Ted Greene, who was cut in camp, but Sid Fournet gave the Titans/Jets 28 games and 20 starts over two seasons. Both sides found value, but Kansas City's longer return earns B+ to B-.

Kansas City acquired the rights to Curt Merz in the April 10, 1962 deal with the New York Titans. Merz became a seven-season Texans/Chiefs lineman and a starter on championship teams, while Jack Johnson was released before the season and Paul Miller never played a regular-season game for New York. That durable, championship-level return makes Kansas City the clear winner.

Kansas City acquired defensive tackle Bob McAdams from the Jets on August 31, 1965 in exchange for Charlie Ragus. McAdams had played 26 games for New York across 1963 and 1964, but his recorded major-league career contains no 1965 Kansas City regular-season appearance. The Chiefs therefore received a recognizable veteran name without realizing regular-season production from the player they acquired in this swap.

The Jets sent veteran center Mike Hudock to Kansas City and received defensive back Solomon Brannan. Brannan played 12 games for New York in 1967, made a start, recovered two fumbles and returned nine kickoffs for 204 yards. He stayed only one season before Cincinnati selected him in the expansion draft, but that single year still produced more useful football than Hudock delivered to Kansas City.

Kansas City acquired veteran defensive end Gerry Philbin from the Jets for Mike Adamle and the 1974 eighth-round pick used on Ron Rydalch. Philbin never played a regular-season game for the Chiefs before being traded to Philadelphia in May. Adamle gave New York two useful seasons, making the Jets the clear winner even before considering the retained draft choice.

Kansas City received the Jets' No. 178 selection for Charles Jackson, but that pick immediately carried prior obligations. Draft-transaction records show the Chiefs had already promised the selection to Dallas in the 1983 Lawrence Ricks deal. Dallas, not Kansas City, used No. 178 on receiver Karl Powe. The Chiefs therefore converted Jackson into an asset that discharged an earlier debt rather than adding a new player.

Kansas City and New York swapped Ron Stallworth for veteran tackle Irv Eatman in February 1991. Eatman immediately started all 16 games for the Jets that season and added 12 more starts in 1992, giving New York 28 starts over two years. Stallworth did not produce a comparable regular-season Chiefs tenure. In a straight player exchange, New York received the far more substantial on-field return.

Kansas City and New York exchanged fifth- and sixth-round positions during the 2003 draft. The Chiefs received Nos. 153 and 189, selecting Jordan Black and Jimmy Wilkerson; the Jets received Nos. 150 and 200, selecting Matt Walters and Brooks Bollinger. Black and Wilkerson combined for long NFL careers and substantial Chiefs service, giving Kansas City a stronger return than New York received from its two selections.

Kansas City acquired linebacker Darron Lee from the New York Jets in May 2019 for a 2020 sixth-round pick. Lee appeared in all 16 regular-season games for the Chiefs and played a rotational defensive and special-teams role on the Super Bowl LIV championship team. New York converted a former first-round pick who was no longer in its plans into late-round draft capital.

Kansas City sent picks No. 175 and No. 207 to the Jets for Nos. 162 and 226. The Chiefs used those selections on Noah Gray and Trey Smith, both of whom became meaningful contributors. New York used its return on Jason Pinnock and Jonathan Marshall, but the Jets did not receive comparable team-specific value from those selections.

Kansas City sent guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif to the New York Jets on November 2, 2021 for tight end Daniel Brown. Brown never appeared in a regular-season game for the Chiefs; he was waived later that month and returned to the Jets' practice squad. Kansas City cleared a veteran from its offensive-line depth chart, but the player return itself produced no game-day value for the Chiefs.

Kansas City reacquired Mecole Hardman from New York in October 2023, receiving the receiver and a 2025 seventh-round pick for a 2025 sixth-rounder. Hardman returned to a familiar offense and delivered the defining payoff months later, catching the overtime touchdown that won Super Bowl LVIII. For a one-round future-pick drop, the Chiefs bought a championship moment and clearly won the exchange.

Kansas City acquired Justin Fields from the Jets for a 2027 sixth-round pick after New York moved in a different direction at quarterback. Fields had started nine games for the Jets in 2025, throwing for 1,259 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception while adding 383 rushing yards and four scores. For only a late future choice, the Chiefs gained experienced quarterback depth and earn a B; New York receives a C.