Philadelphia received guard Dick Bassi and end Les McDonald…
Philadelphia received guard Dick Bassi and end Les McDonald from Chicago in the 1940 deal tied to Johnny Schiechl's rights. Chicago received Schiechl's rights plus Philadelphia's 1941 first-round pick if Schiechl failed to report. He did not report, so the condition triggered and the Bears used the No. 1 overall selection on Tom Harmon.
Chicago Bears Received
- other rights to Johnny Schiechl
- pick 1941 first-round pick (conditional; conveyed when Johnny Schiechl did not report)
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player Dick Bassi
- player Les McDonald
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
In April 1940, Chicago sent guard Dick Bassi and end Les McDonald to Philadelphia for the rights to center Johnny Schiechl. The deal also carried an important condition: if Schiechl failed to report to the Bears, Chicago would receive Philadelphia's first-round selection in the 1941 NFL draft. Schiechl did not report, so that conditional draft choice became part of the realized return.
Philadelphia Eagles Return
Bassi gave Philadelphia immediate value. He played all 11 games for the Eagles in 1940, started nine, and earned first-team All-Pro and NFL All-Star recognition that season. McDonald also appeared in nine games for Philadelphia before finishing the year with Detroit. The Eagles therefore received two usable veterans, including one who produced an honors-level season right away.
Chicago Bears Return
Schiechl himself never became the payoff for Chicago, but the protective condition mattered. Because he did not report, the Bears received Philadelphia's 1941 first-round pick. Philadelphia finished with the league's worst record, making that selection No. 1 overall. Chicago used it on Michigan star Tom Harmon. Harmon did not sign with the Bears then, but Chicago retained his rights and later traded those rights to the Los Angeles Rams in 1946.
Value in Hindsight
The transaction was more complicated than a simple player-for-player swap. Philadelphia obtained immediate veteran help, especially from Bassi, while Chicago's direct player return never materialized. The conditional pick prevented that outcome from becoming a total loss and eventually gave the Bears control of the first overall selection plus a later tradeable asset in Harmon's rights.
Final Verdict
A slight Chicago edge fits the C+/C grade split. Philadelphia received meaningful 1940 production, particularly from Bassi, but Chicago's conditional protection converted Schiechl's failure to report into the No. 1 overall pick and preserved downstream value when Harmon's rights were later traded.