New England Patriots–Pittsburgh Steelers Trade History

New England Patriots received Mike Haggerty in the 1971-07-08 exchange with Pittsburgh Steelers. New England's official historical trade records records the July 8, 1971 acquisition of tackle Mike Haggerty from Pittsburgh for linebacker Marty Schottenheimer and the Patriots' 1972 fourteenth-round choice. Schottenheimer was subsequently moved by Pittsburgh to Baltimore for another 1972 selection, creating additional draft value, while Haggerty gave New England one season. The documented result supports a C grade for New England Patriots. The overall verdict is Pittsburgh Steelers Win, based on realized value rather than hypothetical upside.

New England acquired Ara Person, but Person did not become a Patriots regular-season contributor and later appeared only briefly for another club. The direct return therefore created almost no lasting New England value. That outcome looks especially poor beside Jim Clack's long Steelers tenure, making the Patriots the clear losing side of this player-for-player exchange.

New England Patriots received conditional 1973 sixth round pick (not conveyed), while Pittsburgh Steelers received Ron Gardin. New England sent Ron Gardin to Pittsburgh with a conditional 1973 sixth-round return attached. The condition depended on Gardin making Pittsburgh's roster and was not met, so the pick was never conveyed. The supported history provides enough detail to judge the exchange without overstating uncertain downstream information. New England Patriots earns a D grade, and the overall verdict is Even Trade.

Pittsburgh acquired Ernie Holmes from New England for cash in August 1972 and turned a minor purchase into a core defensive contributor. Holmes played six seasons for the Steelers, became a regular starter on the Steel Curtain front and was part of the franchise’s first two Super Bowl championship teams. New England received only cash, making Pittsburgh the clear long-term winner.

Pittsburgh traded tight end Bob Adams to New England on May 16, 1973 for a conditional 1974 seventh- or eighth-round pick tied to Adams' playing time. The condition ultimately resolved to New England's seventh-round pick, No. 165, which Pittsburgh used on tackle Allen Sitterle. Adams gave the Patriots 25 regular-season games and 12 starts over 1973-74, while Sitterle never appeared in an NFL regular-season game.

New England received Pittsburgh's 1974 tenth-round selection and ultimately also regained John Smith, who returned to the Patriots and became a long-term kicker for the franchise. That combination left New England with the stronger practical outcome from the 1973 move. The B grade reflects the retained compensation and Smith's later value, supporting a New England Patriots Win verdict.

Pittsburgh traded safety Ralph Anderson to New England on Sept. 3, 1973 for the fourth-round pick that became No. 82 in the 1974 draft. The Steelers used it on John Stallworth, a future Hall of Fame receiver who caught 537 passes for 8,723 yards and helped win four Super Bowls. Anderson started 11 games for the Patriots in 1973, but his New England tenure lasted only that season.

New England Patriots received Brian Stenger in the exchange with Pittsburgh Steelers. Brian Stenger appeared in ten Patriots games with two starts, giving New England a modest but tangible return. Against the other side's return of 1974 tenth round pick (#243-Jim Kregel), that outcome supports a C+ grade. The transaction is ultimately judged as New England Patriots Win, with the grade reflecting realized football value rather than the name or nominal value of the asset on the trade date.

New England Patriots received George Webster from Pittsburgh Steelers. George Webster started 25 Patriots games across 1974 and 1975 and remained with the club in 1976, providing substantial veteran linebacker value. That realized return supports a B+ grade for New England Patriots. The final verdict is New England Patriots Win, based on the regular-season service and draft value each club actually received after the exchange.

New England Patriots received Craig Hanneman from Pittsburgh Steelers. Craig Hanneman appeared in 20 Patriots games across 1974 and 1975, giving New England useful defensive-line depth over two seasons. That realized return supports a B- grade for New England Patriots. The final verdict is New England Patriots Win, based on the regular-season service and draft value each club actually received after the exchange.

New England Patriots acquired Dave Pureifory from Pittsburgh in August 1978 and surrendered the 1979 sixth-round selection that became Dwayne Woodruff. Pureifory did not provide meaningful Patriots regular-season value after the move, while the pick became a major long-term Steelers contributor. That enormous realized gap leaves New England with an F despite the seemingly modest original price.

Pittsburgh sent Greg Hawthorne to New England and received the 1985 ninth-round pick used on Andre Harris. Neither side produced a major long-term payoff, but the Steelers retained a controlled draft asset and realized the slightly better overall return. That small advantage supports a C+ grade for Pittsburgh rather than treating a low-impact exchange as a decisive win.

Pittsburgh moved from No. 100 to No. 88 in the 1991 draft and selected defensive back Sammy Walker. Walker played only 18 games for the Steelers with four starts. New England received picks No. 100 and No. 127, then used subsequent trades involving those selections to create additional assets, including the pick that became five-time Pro Bowl tight end Ben Coates.

New England received Leroy Thompson, who delivered one productive all-purpose season for the Patriots. That immediate contribution gave New England useful value, though the return was not so large or durable that it clearly separated the Patriots from Pittsburgh. The B- grade reflects that realized football value and the complete supported package, while the overall verdict is Even Trade.

Pittsburgh moved from No. 50 to No. 39 in the 2001 second round and selected linebacker Kendrell Bell. Bell played 90 NFL games and recorded 20.5 sacks, giving the Steelers an immediate productive defensive starter. New England received Nos. 50 and 112 and later used both selections in additional trades, preserving useful flexibility from the move down.

New England Patriots agreed to send rookie running back Patrick Cobbs to Pittsburgh for a conditional 2007 fifth-round choice. Cobbs was waived by the Steelers roughly a week later, and the condition was not satisfied, so New England received no conveyed pick. With no lasting player or draft return produced by the agreement, the Patriots receive a D in an even low-value result.

Pittsburgh sent picks 17 and 120 to New England for No. 14, using the move up on tackle Broderick Jones. Jones has started 38 games through three seasons but missed the final six games of 2025 with injury. New England stayed in the first round and drafted Christian Gonzalez, a 2024 second-team All-Pro and 2025 Pro Bowler. The fourth-round asset was later moved, and Gonzalez’s elite cornerback play now gives New England a clear win.

Pittsburgh acquired veteran safety Kyle Dugger and a 2026 seventh-round pick from New England in October 2025 for a 2026 sixth-round pick. Dugger arrived with 81 career games, 69 starts, nine interceptions and extensive starting experience. The late-round pick swap narrowed the acquisition cost, making this a veteran-for-draft-position transaction rather than a pure player sale.