Baltimore acquired defensive lineman Billy Ray Smith Sr. from…
Baltimore acquired defensive lineman Billy Ray Smith Sr. from Pittsburgh for defensive back Jackie Simpson on January 25, 1961. Smith became a long-term Colts mainstay, appearing in 124 regular-season games for Baltimore and starting 75, with a career that extended through the Super Bowl V championship season. Simpson gave Pittsburgh 21 games and five starts across two seasons. The longevity gap makes Baltimore the decisive winner.
Indianapolis Colts Received
- player Billy Ray Smith Sr.
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- player Jack Simpson / Jackie Simpson
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
The January 25, 1961 exchange was a straight veteran-for-veteran move between Baltimore and Pittsburgh. The Colts sent defensive back Jackie Simpson, a member of their 1958 and 1959 championship clubs, to the Steelers for defensive lineman Billy Ray Smith Sr. Smith had been a regular in Pittsburgh and brought pass-rush ability to a Baltimore defense looking to refresh its front. Contemporary Colts material describes the same one-for-one exchange, while Smith's transaction history supplies the exact date.
What Baltimore Received
Smith became far more than a short-term addition. Across his Baltimore tenure he appeared in 124 regular-season games and started 75, shifting along the defensive front and developing into a long-time fixture. He remained with the Colts through 1970, including the teams that reached Super Bowl III and won Super Bowl V. Even with a brief retirement interruption in 1963, the amount of service Baltimore received from one veteran swap was substantial.
What Pittsburgh Received
Simpson was not a zero. He played the final two seasons of his professional career with Pittsburgh, appearing in 21 games and making five starts in 1961 and 1962. That gave the Steelers legitimate defensive-back depth and keeps their side from receiving a failing grade. The problem is scale: two useful seasons cannot match the near-decade of defensive-line service Baltimore obtained from Smith.
Final Verdict
Baltimore Colts Win decisively. Baltimore earns an A because Smith became a durable, long-term defensive contributor and remained part of a championship-era roster. Pittsburgh gets a C for receiving real but limited service from Simpson. The trade was functional for both clubs in the immediate term, but the difference in longevity and sustained role makes the historical winner unmistakable.