Chicago sent end Edgar 'Eggs' Manske to Pittsburgh in 1938…
Chicago sent end Edgar 'Eggs' Manske to Pittsburgh in 1938 and received the Steelers' 1939 first-round choice. Pittsburgh finished with a pick that landed second overall, and the Bears used it on Sid Luckman. Luckman became a Hall of Fame quarterback and led Chicago to four NFL championships. Manske later returned to the Bears, making the first-round acquisition one of the most productive trades in franchise history.
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 1939 first round pick (#2-Sid Luckman)
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- player Edgar Manske / Ed Manske / Eggs Manske
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Before the 1938 season, Chicago sent end Edgar 'Eggs' Manske to Pittsburgh in exchange for the Steelers' first-round selection in the 1939 draft. Pittsburgh's season left that choice at No. 2 overall. Chicago used it on Columbia quarterback Sid Luckman. Bears historical material and draft transaction records agree on the essential exchange, even though surviving references are less consistent about the exact day within August when the agreement was made.
Why the Value Moved
Luckman became the engine of one of pro football's defining teams. He spent 12 seasons with Chicago, entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and helped the Bears win four NFL championships. His role in the Bears' use of the T-formation also gave the acquisition significance beyond ordinary statistical production. Manske was a capable end, but his Pittsburgh stay did not generate anything close to that value, and he later returned to Chicago.
How the Outcome Looks
The strongest trades involving draft choices are those in which the receiving club both acquires premium position and converts it correctly. Chicago did exactly that. The Bears did not merely receive a future first-rounder that happened to look valuable in retrospect; they turned the second overall selection into the quarterback around whom a championship system was built. Pittsburgh gave up that opportunity for a player whose tenure with the Steelers was brief, creating a gap in both peak value and duration.
Final Verdict
Chicago Bears Win. An A+ is appropriate because the Bears converted one outgoing veteran into the second overall pick and then into a Hall of Fame quarterback with four championship seasons on his résumé. Pittsburgh receives a D because Manske's limited Steelers value never approached the asset surrendered. The uncertain exact August day should not obscure the well-established substance of the trade or the extraordinary difference in what the two sides ultimately received.