Baltimore traded defensive tackle Jim Krahl to San Francisco…
Baltimore traded defensive tackle Jim Krahl to San Francisco on September 23, 1980 for a 1981 tenth-round pick. Krahl appeared in two games for the 49ers without a start, so the return was small. The Colts used No. 256 on linebacker Greg Gerken, who did not play an NFL regular-season game. San Francisco gets a narrow win because it received the only measurable NFL contribution.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- pick 1981 tenth round pick (#256-Gregg Gerken / Greg Gerken)
San Francisco 49ers Received
- player Jim Krahl
Trade Analysis
Why San Francisco Added Krahl
The 49ers acquired defensive tackle Jim Krahl from Baltimore on September 23, 1980 for a future tenth-round pick. San Francisco was buying inexpensive defensive-line depth during a season in which the roster was still being reshaped.
What San Francisco Received
Krahl's contribution was limited. Pro Football Archives and Pro-Football-Reference list him for two San Francisco games in 1980 with no starts. He did not play another NFL season. The 49ers therefore received only a brief depth stint rather than a lasting defensive piece.
What Baltimore Received
The Colts used the acquired No. 256 selection in the 1981 draft on linebacker Greg Gerken from Northern Arizona. Gerken signed but did not appear in an NFL regular-season game. He later became a productive USFL linebacker, but that later career did not create Colts value from this trade.
Why San Francisco Still Has the Edge
A two-game return is normally too small to celebrate. The comparison matters, however, because Baltimore's selected player never reached the field for the Colts in a regular-season game. San Francisco at least received the veteran depth it was seeking, and the acquisition cost was only a tenth-round choice.
Taken together, the production and acquisition cost show why the grade should follow realized team contribution rather than reputation or draft position alone.
Final Verdict
San Francisco earns a C+ and the Colts a D+. Neither side gained substantial value, but Krahl's two games represent the only realized NFL contribution directly tied to the exchange. That small difference is enough for a San Francisco 49ers Win without overstating the transaction.