Philadelphia purchased Jim Kearney from Detroit on August 14,…
Philadelphia purchased Jim Kearney from Detroit on August 14, 1967, but released him less than a month later. The Eagles therefore received little regular-season value from the acquisition, while Detroit at least collected the cash consideration. Kearney later became a useful NFL player elsewhere, but that later career does not rescue Philadelphia's side of this specific transaction.
Detroit Lions Received
- other cash
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player Jim Kearney
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Detroit sent Jim Kearney to Philadelphia for cash on August 14, 1967. Kearney's player history then shows Philadelphia releasing him on September 11, before he could establish a meaningful Eagles tenure. That short timeline makes this transaction unusually straightforward to judge despite Kearney's later success with other clubs.
Detroit Lions Return
Philadelphia purchased Jim Kearney from Detroit on August 14, 1967, but released him less than a month later. The Eagles therefore received little regular-season value from the acquisition, while Detroit at least collected the cash consideration. Kearney later became a useful NFL player elsewhere, but that later career does not rescue Philadelphia's side of this specific transaction.
Philadelphia Eagles Return
Detroit received cash for Jim Kearney shortly before Philadelphia released him. Because Kearney did not provide the Eagles with meaningful regular-season value from the purchase, the Lions achieved the cleaner result even without receiving a player or pick. The transaction was small, so Detroit's grade stays modest, but Philadelphia clearly received less than it hoped.
Value in Hindsight
A player's later career can distort hindsight if it is credited to the wrong transaction. Kearney eventually proved he could play in the NFL, but Philadelphia did not capture that value. Detroit received consideration and Philadelphia quickly moved on, making the Lions the clear winner of the specific 1967 exchange even though the stakes were small.
Final Verdict
The final call is Detroit Lions Win. Detroit Lions receives a C+ grade and Philadelphia Eagles receives a D+ grade. The grades focus on post-transaction value, role, longevity, and the scale of the assets exchanged. Because this was a relatively small historical transaction, the evaluation stays proportional rather than treating ordinary roster value like a franchise-changing blockbuster. The better grade goes to the club that received the more useful football return after the move.