Chicago and Pittsburgh completed two linked April 4, 1962…
Chicago and Pittsburgh completed two linked April 4, 1962 transactions involving the same 1963 first-round selection. Pittsburgh first returned that No. 11 choice to Chicago for Rudy Bukich and a tenth-rounder, then reacquired it along with a 1964 second-round pick for quarterback Ed Brown. Both quarterbacks later started for their new clubs, but Chicago’s added second-round asset gives the Bears a narrow win.
Chicago Bears Received
- player Rudy Bukich
- pick 1963 tenth round pick (#137-Ed Hoerster)
- pick 1963 first round pick (#11-Dave Behrman)
- pick 1964 second round pick (#23-Pat Crain)
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- pick 1963 first round pick (#11-Dave Behrman)
- player Ed Brown (b)
Trade Analysis
Why the Same Pick Appears Twice
The 1963 No. 11 selection legitimately appears on both sides because Chicago and Pittsburgh completed two linked trades on April 4, 1962. Draft transaction records show Chicago first sending that first-round choice back to Pittsburgh in exchange for Rudy Bukich and the 1963 No. 137 selection. Later the same day, Pittsburgh sent the No. 11 choice back to Chicago along with its 1964 second-round pick for veteran quarterback Ed Brown. The record therefore describes a sequence, not a single impossible swap.
What Pittsburgh Received
The Steelers’ lasting player return was Brown. He served behind Bobby Layne in 1962, throwing for 726 yards and five touchdowns, then became the full-time starter after Layne retired. In 1963 Brown started all 14 games and threw for 2,982 yards and 21 touchdowns as Pittsburgh stayed in contention until the final week. He started 13 more games in 1964. That is substantial immediate value from a veteran quarterback acquired in the second transaction.
What Chicago Received
Chicago brought Bukich back and gained draft capital. Bukich’s best season came later: in 1965 he threw for 2,641 yards, 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions with a 93.7 passer rating. The Bears also received the 1963 tenth-round selection and Pittsburgh’s 1964 second-round choice. Because the No. 11 first-rounder moved out and then back during the paired transactions, it effectively cancels when evaluating the same-day sequence; the extra second-round asset is the important structural advantage.
Final Verdict
Chicago wins narrowly, not overwhelmingly. Pittsburgh got real value from Brown, especially his 1963 season, and deserves a solid B. The Bears recovered Bukich, eventually received high-level quarterback play from him, and added the 1964 second-round selection plus a late pick while the first-rounder cycled through both deals. That combination earns Chicago a B+ and the verdict. The corrected explanation resolves the apparent duplicate-pick problem without removing either documented transaction from the historical sequence.