The New York Titans received Bill Mathis and Bob Crandall…
The New York Titans received Bill Mathis and Bob Crandall from Houston in August 1960, completing an earlier rights transaction tied to Don Floyd. Mathis became a decade-long fixture for the Titans and Jets, while Floyd developed into a long-term Houston defensive starter. Because both franchises obtained substantial early-AFL value from the exchange, a strong even B/B judgment fits better than forcing a winner.
New York Jets Received
- player Bill Mathis
- player Bob Crandall
Tennessee Titans Received
- other rights to Don Floyd
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
The August 1960 transaction was part of the player-rights maneuvering that shaped the new AFL. Contemporary reporting says New York received Bill Mathis and Bob Crandall to complete an earlier deal in which Houston had received Titans draft rights. Historical player records specifically connect those rights to Don Floyd, making the extra unspecified-rights line unnecessary duplication rather than a separate supported asset.
New York Jets Return
New York landed the most durable offensive player in the exchange. Mathis spent ten seasons with the Titans and Jets, appearing in 137 games and starting 91, and became an important member of the young franchise. Crandall was an additional piece, but Mathis alone gave New York meaningful long-term value well beyond what is typical for a minor rights transaction.
Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans Return
Houston's side was also valuable because Floyd became a major part of the Oilers defense. He started throughout the early AFL years and remained with Houston across eight seasons. Acquiring and retaining his rights was therefore not a token return. The Oilers gave up a good back in Mathis but secured a defensive player who delivered comparable long-term franchise value.
Value in Hindsight
This is one of the rare small historical transactions where both teams can claim a meaningful success. Mathis gave New York a decade of service, while Floyd became a long-tenured Houston defender. The evidence is less precise about every administrative detail of the original rights arrangement, so medium confidence is appropriate, but the football value on both sides supports matching B grades.
Final Verdict
The final call is Even Trade. New York Jets receives a B grade and Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans receives a B grade. The grades emphasize the assets that actually survived the transaction, the useful NFL production generated after the move, and the price each club paid. The result stays proportional to the size of the deal and does not turn a depth move or late-round asset into a franchise-changing event.