Pittsburgh acquired halfback and defensive back Bob Hanlon…
Pittsburgh acquired halfback and defensive back Bob Hanlon from the Chicago Cardinals for a 1950 twelfth-round pick, No. 152, used on Bob Sharpe. Hanlon played all 12 games for the Steelers in 1949, started seven and intercepted three passes while also returning kicks. Sharpe did not create comparable documented NFL value. The return was modest, but Pittsburgh received the clearer immediate contribution from the documented transaction.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- pick 1950 twelfth round pick (#152-Bob Sharpe)
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- player Bob Hanlon
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Pittsburgh acquired Bob Hanlon from the Chicago Cardinals on September 24, 1949. The Cardinals received Pittsburgh's 1950 twelfth-round selection, No. 152, later used on Bob Sharpe. This was separate from the same-day Walter Szot transaction.
Pittsburgh Steelers Return
Hanlon gave Pittsburgh immediate roster value in an era when players regularly filled multiple roles. He appeared in all 12 games for the 1949 Steelers and started seven. His offensive totals were modest, but he intercepted three passes on defense and returned 11 kickoffs for 213 yards. That combination made him a functional contributor for the full season.
Chicago Cardinals Return
The Cardinals obtained a late-round draft choice rather than keeping Hanlon. The pick became Bob Sharpe, but the available professional record does not show a comparable NFL contribution tied to that selection. The Cardinals did gain future roster flexibility, which keeps the return from being worthless, but the realized value was limited.
Value in Hindsight
The stakes were small: a one-season contributor against a twelfth-round selection. Still, Hanlon's actual 1949 usage matters. Pittsburgh received starts, defensive takeaways and return-game work from the player it acquired. The Cardinals' pick did not generate an equivalent NFL résumé. Separating this transaction from the Walter Szot deal makes that modest value gap easier to see.
Final Verdict
Pittsburgh earns a B- and the Cardinals a C+. Hanlon was not a long-term cornerstone, but he supplied a complete season of useful work at a very low acquisition cost. The Cardinals' late pick offered future opportunity without producing a stronger documented return.