Detroit's unusual return was Buster Ramsey's coaching…
Detroit's unusual return was Buster Ramsey's coaching services, and the payoff was enormous: he joined the staff in 1952, ran the defense through 1959 and served on championship teams in 1952, 1953 and 1957. Chicago received Jerry Krall, whom Detroit had already released and re-signed solely to complete the transaction; Krall never played a Cardinals regular-season game. Detroit's A-to-D win is one of the clearest coaching-for-player outcomes in the archive.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Jerry Krall
Detroit Lions Received
- other Buster Ramsey (assistant coach / coaching services)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Detroit's 1952 exchange with the Chicago Cardinals was highly unusual: the Lions sent halfback Jerry Krall for Buster Ramsey's coaching services. A Pro Football Researchers Association account preserves general manager Nick Kerbawy's recollection that Detroit had actually released Krall, then re-signed him after agreeing to the trade so the club legally owned the player it was sending. The transaction was explicitly designed to bring Ramsey onto Buddy Parker's staff.
Detroit Lions Return
Ramsey became an extraordinary organizational return. Detroit installed him as an assistant in 1952 and as the defensive leader thereafter. Pro Football Reference lists Ramsey as the Lions' defensive coordinator through 1959. Detroit won the NFL championship in 1952 and 1953 with Ramsey directing the defense and again in 1957. The club's 1957 media guide described him as the assistant who specialized in the defensive unit, especially the defensive backs.
Arizona Cardinals Return
Chicago did not receive meaningful on-field value from Krall. His NFL record consists of seven games for Detroit in 1950; Pro Football Reference's player index shows no Cardinals season after the 1952 exchange. The historical trade account itself explains why: Krall had already been released by Detroit and was re-signed specifically so he could be transferred. That makes the Cardinals' realized player return zero regular-season games.
Value in Hindsight
This trade cannot be judged like a normal player swap because Detroit deliberately acquired coaching expertise. The result is still concrete: Ramsey served eight seasons on the Lions staff, coordinated championship defenses and remained through the franchise's 1957 title. Chicago received a player who never appeared for it. The coaching asset therefore created direct, sustained team value that is unusually easy to identify in hindsight.
Final Verdict
Detroit moves from A- to A and Chicago/Arizona falls from C- to D, with the Detroit Lions Win verdict unchanged. An A reflects eight seasons of coaching service and three championships without claiming that one assistant alone caused every team result. The Cardinals' D reflects zero regular-season games from Krall after a transaction built primarily to free Ramsey for Detroit.