Kansas City traded quarterback Dean Carlson to Green Bay on…
Kansas City traded quarterback Dean Carlson to Green Bay on September 10, 1974, for the Packers’ third-round selection in the 1976 draft. The Chiefs eventually used that pick at No. 74 on safety Gary Barbaro. Carlson’s Green Bay stay was brief, while Barbaro became a seven-year Chiefs starter-level fixture, earned three Pro Bowl selections, and intercepted 39 passes, making Kansas City the decisive winner.
Green Bay Packers Received
- player Dean Carlson
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- pick 1976 third round pick (#74-Gary Barbaro)
Trade Analysis
The Documented Exchange
Kansas City’s official historical material traces the 1976 third-round selection used on Gary Barbaro directly to the 1974 Dean Carlson trade with Green Bay. Contemporary player transaction records date Carlson’s move to the Packers to September 10, 1974. Kansas City surrendered the quarterback and received Green Bay’s 1976 third-round choice, which ultimately became the No. 74 overall selection. That chain connects the original transaction to Barbaro without relying on a speculative pick assignment.
What Green Bay Received
Carlson offered the Packers a short-lived quarterback option. His transaction record shows the September 10 move to Green Bay, followed by his release on October 21 and a return to Kansas City the next day. His NFL career amounted to only one regular-season game, and that appearance came with the Chiefs rather than the Packers. Green Bay therefore gave up a future third-rounder without receiving meaningful regular-season production in return. Even allowing for the value of temporary roster insurance at quarterback, the football payoff was negligible.
What Kansas City Received
The Chiefs turned the acquired selection into Gary Barbaro, one of the franchise’s most productive safeties of the era. Kansas City’s Hall of Honor credits Barbaro with seven seasons for the Chiefs, three consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1980 through 1982, 39 interceptions, and a streak of 101 consecutive games played. NFL career statistics also list 101 games and 39 interceptions for Kansas City. A third-round pick becoming a durable, ball-producing Pro Bowl defensive back represents exceptional realized value.
Final Verdict
This trade developed into a major Kansas City success. Green Bay’s return was a quarterback who left the club within weeks and did not provide regular-season production there. Kansas City waited two drafts for the asset to mature, then selected a safety who became a long-term starter and three-time Pro Bowler. The Chiefs deserve an A for converting Carlson into Barbaro, while Green Bay receives a D for surrendering the pick without a lasting return. Club history and transaction records support the September 10 date and the pick chain, so confidence is high.