Pittsburgh received San Francisco's 1980 tenth-round pick and…

The Exchange

Pittsburgh traded Tony Dungy to San Francisco on August 21, 1979 for a 1980 tenth-round draft pick. The selection became No. 250 and was used on Woodrow Wilson. The deal came after Dungy had already shown versatility in Pittsburgh, but the hindsight comparison focuses on what each club received after the exchange. San Francisco got immediate game and starting value, while Pittsburgh's late pick produced much less.

Pittsburgh Steelers Return

The Steelers received a tenth-round pick, an asset with limited expected value, and used it on Wilson. The selection did not develop into a meaningful regular-season return for Pittsburgh. That does not make the decision catastrophic, especially given the depth of the pick, but it means the club failed to turn Dungy into an asset that matched what he still had to offer as an NFL player.

San Francisco 49ers Return

Dungy contributed right away for the 49ers. He appeared in 15 games and made seven starts during the 1979 season, giving San Francisco useful secondary depth and lineup flexibility. His value did not stop at those appearances. The 49ers later included him in another trade, showing that the club retained a usable asset after receiving a season of direct on-field contribution.

Value in Hindsight

San Francisco gave up very little draft capital and received a player who immediately helped, started games and still held transaction value afterward. Pittsburgh's tenth-round return did not produce a comparable player. The original stakes were modest, so the grades should remain measured, but the value difference is substantial enough to make the 49ers the clear winner.

Final Verdict

San Francisco 49ers Win. The 49ers earn a B- for extracting immediate playing time and later transaction value from Dungy. Pittsburgh receives a D+ because its tenth-round return did not generate comparable football value.