Chicago acquired veteran defensive end Tommy Hart from San…
Chicago acquired veteran defensive end Tommy Hart from San Francisco on April 20, 1978 for the 47th overall pick. Hart started all 16 games for the Bears that season and produced an estimated 7.5 sacks, then returned for 15 more games in 1979. Chicago received immediate defensive help, but the 49ers used the pick on Walt Downing, who stayed in San Francisco for six seasons and offered the longer return.
Chicago Bears Received
- player Tommy Hart
San Francisco 49ers Received
- pick 1978 second-round pick (#47, Walt Downing)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Chicago acquired veteran defensive end Tommy Hart from San Francisco on April 20, 1978, sending the 49ers its second-round selection, No. 47 overall. San Francisco used that choice on offensive lineman Walt Downing. The transaction therefore offers a clean veteran-versus-draft-pick comparison with identifiable production on both sides.
Hart in Chicago
Hart gave the Bears immediate help. He started all 16 games in 1978 and is credited by Pro Football Reference with an estimated 7.5 sacks, plus a safety. He returned for 15 games in 1979. For a team trying to add a proven pass rusher, two seasons that included a full year of starting work were a legitimate return on the pick.
Downing in San Francisco
The 49ers turned No. 47 into a player who lasted much longer. Downing remained with San Francisco from 1978 through 1983, appearing in 83 regular-season games and starting 17. He was part of the 1981 championship-season roster and provided useful offensive-line depth across six seasons. That longevity matters even though he was not a full-time starter for most of the run.
Comparing the Returns
Chicago received the better peak season, while San Francisco received the longer asset life. Hart's 1978 production means the Bears cannot be graded harshly, but a second-round pick that yields six seasons and 83 games is a strong conversion for the 49ers. The difference is modest rather than overwhelming.
Final Verdict
San Francisco 49ers Win. San Francisco earns a B-plus for turning Hart into a durable multi-year lineman. Chicago earns a B because Hart immediately started and produced as a pass rusher. The 49ers win on duration, but both clubs received credible football value from the exchange.
Hart gave Chicago two productive veteran seasons, while Downing's six-year San Francisco tenure supplied the longer and more durable team-specific return overall.