Los Angeles Rams–Pittsburgh Steelers Trade History

The Rams received Johnny Gilden, but he did not produce a comparable playing return for the club. That absence of meaningful realized value left Los Angeles behind Pittsburgh's multi-season contribution from Maras. That outcome supports a D+ grade within the Pittsburgh Steelers Win verdict. The grade reflects realized football value rather than the size of the original package.

The Rams received Hugh McCullough. His 1940 playing record is associated with the Cardinals rather than a meaningful Rams tenure, so Los Angeles did not receive a comparable on-field return to the season Condit delivered for Pittsburgh. The D+ grade reflects that realized football value and the complete supported package, while the overall verdict is Pittsburgh Steelers Win.

Cleveland Rams received Eberle Schultz in the 1945-08-01 exchange with Pittsburgh Steelers. Eberle Schultz became an important Cleveland Rams lineman during the 1945 championship season and continued to provide meaningful value. The direct package is the basis for the hindsight grade, with later movement of an acquired selection treated separately. That supports Los Angeles Rams Win.

Los Angeles turned three fringe players into the 1954 fourth-round pick used on Lester McClelland, but McClelland never played an NFL game. Pittsburgh got the only realized production: Nick Bolkovac appeared in 17 Steelers games and scored 57 points, while Bill Hegarty played one Pittsburgh game and George Porter never reached an NFL regular-season game. That gives Pittsburgh the stronger hindsight return.

Los Angeles Rams received Gary Kerkorian. Los Angeles received Gary Kerkorian. The available post-trade research does not establish a substantial Rams regular-season contribution from him after the exchange. His broader football history should not be imported into this specific return unless it occurred for Los Angeles after the trade.

Pittsburgh acquired defensive tackle Tom Palmer from the Rams on September 20, 1953 for a conditional 1955 eighth-round pick. The condition depended on Palmer remaining on the Steelers roster through the sixth league game. Palmer played 11 games with five starts in 1953 and returned in 1954, so Pittsburgh received useful depth and starting snaps. The Steelers earn a narrow C+ to C win.

Los Angeles Rams received 1955 draft pick (selection not identified). Los Angeles received a 1955 draft pick for George 'Spud' Murphy, but the exact selection has not been identified. The Rams therefore acquired a real draft asset whose downstream player outcome remains unresolved. That uncertainty must stay explicit rather than being converted into a guessed pick.

Pittsburgh acquired linebacker Stan Sheriff and defensive back Dewey McConnell from the Rams on September 10, 1954 for a future draft choice. Both newcomers played that season, with Sheriff starting seven games and McConnell four. Surviving draft-trade records only tentatively connect the Rams’ return to 1955 pick No. 18, so that selection should not be credited as a confirmed downstream asset.

Los Angeles Rams received undisclosed draft pick (possibly 1958 #44-Frank Woidzik) (possibly 1958 #55-Frank Ryan) from Pittsburgh Steelers, while Pittsburgh Steelers received 2 players in the 1957-09-04 deal. In hindsight, Los Angeles Rams's return did not separate far enough from the other side to justify a winner. The grades are C for Los Angeles Rams and C for Pittsburgh Steelers, producing a final verdict of Even Trade. The rating stays proportional to the stakes and to the value the acquired pieces ultimately delivered.

Pittsburgh acquired Sid Fournet and Dean Derby from the Rams in September 1957 for future draft consideration. The exact Rams pick chain is not fully settled, but Derby's Pittsburgh value is clear: he became an All-Pro and Pro Bowl defensive back and intercepted 21 passes across his NFL career. The Steelers captured the strongest realized player value and earn an A- to the Rams' C.

Pittsburgh’s conditional sixth-rounder conveyed because Bob Dougherty made the Steelers roster, and Los Angeles used No. 66 in 1960 on Don Ellersick. Dougherty gave Pittsburgh one season with 12 games and seven starts at linebacker. Ellersick gave the Rams one season too, but he played 12 games, started nine and intercepted two passes. The margins are narrow, yet the verified outcomes favor Los Angeles, B to B-, rather than Pittsburgh.

Los Angeles Rams received 1959 fourth round pick (#45-Bob Reifsnyder) in the 1958-07-16 exchange with Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh acquired veteran fullback Paul 'Tank' Younger from the Rams on July 16, 1958 for the 1959 fourth-round choice later used on Bob Reifsnyder. Contemporary reporting described an undisclosed draft choice, while later draft provenance resolves the exact selection. The documented result supports a B- grade for Los Angeles Rams. The overall verdict is Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams Win, based on realized value rather than hypothetical upside.

Pittsburgh acquired Billy Ray Smith Sr. and rookie receiver Jimmy Orr immediately before the 1958 season. Orr exploded for 910 receiving yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie and spent three productive years with the Steelers. Los Angeles appears to have received the 1959 third-round choice used on Tom Franckhauser, with a possible additional 1960 third-rounder tied to Pervis Atkins.

Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams received Frank Varrichione, while Pittsburgh Steelers received Lou Michaels. Pittsburgh received Lou Michaels, who became a productive defensive end and kicker for three seasons, while the Rams received tackle Frank Varrichione, who started 56 games for Los Angeles from 1961 through 1965 and made the 1962 Pro Bowl. Both clubs received substantial veteran value. That outcome supports a B+ grade for Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, a B+ for Pittsburgh Steelers, and a Even Trade verdict.

Pittsburgh acquired tackle Charlie Bradshaw from Los Angeles on September 12, 1961, for the Steelers’ 1962 third-round pick, No. 33 overall. Bradshaw became a six-year Pittsburgh fixture, appearing in 82 games with 80 starts and earning Pro Bowl recognition in 1963 and 1964. The Rams used the pick on tackle John Cornett, who did not produce comparable NFL value. Pittsburgh turned a third-rounder into a long-term starting tackle.

Los Angeles sent George Strugar to Pittsburgh and received the 1963 fifth-round choice that became No. 67 Don Chuy. Chuy gave the Rams six seasons, 74 games, and 20 starts, turning a mid-round selection into durable line value. Strugar appeared in only one game for Pittsburgh before moving on, so the Rams realized a much stronger and longer-lasting return.

Los Angeles Rams received Mike Henry in the exchange with Pittsburgh Steelers. Mike Henry did not provide the Rams with a comparable stretch of football value after the trade. His playing return was short, leaving Los Angeles with limited direct benefit from the exchange. In hindsight, that direct outcome supports a D+ grade for Los Angeles Rams. The judgment focuses on what this transaction itself produced rather than unrelated later moves.

Los Angeles acquired Ed Holler, but he never appeared in a Rams regular-season game. The player-for-player return therefore produced no on-field value for the Rams. The grade remains tied to documented value for the acquiring club, without assigning credit for unresolved or hypothetical downstream consideration.

Los Angeles Rams received Joe Krupa in the exchange with Pittsburgh Steelers. Joe Krupa had been a regular Pittsburgh starter before the move, but his Rams tenure did not produce a durable return. Los Angeles added an experienced defensive tackle, yet the acquisition did not develop into a meaningful long-term win. In hindsight, that direct outcome supports a C grade for Los Angeles Rams. The judgment focuses on what this transaction itself produced rather than unrelated later moves.

Los Angeles received Frank Molden after sending Ken Henson and Bob Hohn to Pittsburgh. Molden's Rams tenure was brief and did not match the multi-season contribution Hohn later supplied for the Steelers. The C+ grade recognizes that Los Angeles did receive an NFL player in the exchange, but the realized return was clearly lighter than Pittsburgh's combined veteran value.

On 1966-07-08, Los Angeles Rams received Myron Pottios, while Pittsburgh Steelers received draft pick (selection not identified). The hindsight verdict is Los Angeles/Cleveland/St. Louis Rams Win, with Los Angeles Rams graded B and Pittsburgh Steelers graded C+. The evaluation follows the documented consideration and the football value that can be traced from it, while keeping unverified downstream pick identities or conditional outcomes out of the final judgment.

Los Angeles Rams received Bob Nichols, while Pittsburgh Steelers received Roger Pillath. Bob Nichols played for Los Angeles after the exchange, giving the Rams the more useful realized return from the deal. In hindsight, that direct return supports a C+ grade for Los Angeles Rams. The grade reflects realized football value from this exchange rather than reputation alone.

Los Angeles acquired veteran defensive back Willie Daniel from Pittsburgh for a draft choice whose exact identity is disputed in historical records, most likely a 1968 third-rounder. Daniel immediately became a useful Rams defender, appearing in 38 regular-season games across three seasons and intercepting three passes. Pittsburgh gained draft capital, but the uncertain downstream identity limits the return that can be credited confidently.

Pittsburgh acquired Jerome Bettis and a third-round pick for a package led by Ernie Conwell and future fourth-round value. Bettis became a Hall of Fame runner, the identity of the Steelers offense, and a central figure in a championship era. The Rams received useful value, but Pittsburgh acquired the player who defined the deal.

Los Angeles Rams received Troy Edwards from Pittsburgh Steelers. The Rams received Troy Edwards and obtained a modest receiving contribution during the 2002 season. He gave St. Louis immediate regular-season value after the exchange. That outcome supports a C+ grade for Los Angeles Rams. The final verdict is Los Angeles Rams Win, based on the football value the club actually realized from the assets it controlled after the exchange.

Pittsburgh acquired Allen Robinson and the 251st pick in 2023 from the Rams for No. 234. Robinson started all 17 games and caught 34 passes for 280 yards in his lone Steelers season, while No. 251 became Spencer Anderson, who developed into a useful lineman with 42 games and 11 starts through 2025. That combined return gives Pittsburgh the narrow hindsight edge.

Los Angeles acquired Kevin Dotson plus Pittsburgh's 2024 fifth- and 2025 sixth-round picks for the Rams' 2024 fourth- and 2025 fifth-round choices. Dotson immediately became a starting guard, then re-signed on a three-year deal and started 45 regular-season games for Los Angeles from 2023 through 2025. Pittsburgh gained better draft positions, but the Rams found a high-level long-term starter at a manageable trade price.