Cleveland acquired tackle Jack Hadden from the New York…
Cleveland acquired tackle Jack Hadden from the New York Giants in February 1939 for fullback Carl Littlefield. Contemporary reporting and later player histories support the one-for-one exchange. Hadden's NFL playing record ended after his 1938 Giants season, while Littlefield did not ultimately play for New York in 1939. The limited realized value on both sides supports Cleveland's C grade.
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Jack Hadden
New York Giants Received
- player Carl Littlefield
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
At the February 1939 NFL meetings, Cleveland acquired tackle Jack Hadden from the New York Giants for fullback Carl Littlefield. Contemporary Associated Press reporting described the swap directly, and later player histories also identify Littlefield as the player sent to New York for Hadden. No additional compensation is supported by the researched evidence.
Cleveland Rams Return
Cleveland received Hadden after his three-season run with the Giants. His recorded NFL career ended with the 1938 season, so the Rams did not receive a documented regular-season playing return from him after the trade. The acquisition was legitimate, but the hindsight value was limited because Hadden did not become an on-field contributor for Cleveland.
New York Giants Return
New York received Littlefield, who had played nine games for Cleveland in 1938 and scored the only NFL touchdown of his career on a fumble return. Littlefield did not become a lasting Giants player after the deal. He instead played for Pittsburgh in 1939, leaving New York without a substantial realized return from its side of the exchange.
Value in Hindsight
Both teams acquired identifiable veteran players, but neither side turned the trade into meaningful long-term production. Cleveland did not receive post-trade NFL game value from Hadden, while Littlefield did not establish a sustained Giants tenure. The transaction therefore produced very little separation between the clubs once the subsequent careers are traced.
Final Verdict
An Even Trade with matching C grades is appropriate. The swap itself is well supported, but its practical impact was small: neither Hadden nor Littlefield became a durable contributor for the team that acquired him. The historical record supports documenting the exchange without assigning a decisive winner.