New Orleans received veteran defensive end Dan Colchico for…
New Orleans received veteran defensive end Dan Colchico for Jim Jordan in April 1968. Jordan never produced a regular-season appearance for San Francisco and was playing for the Alabama Hawks in the Continental Football League later that year. Colchico eventually returned from his long Achilles recovery to play nine games for the Saints in 1969. That modest contribution gives New Orleans the edge.
New Orleans Saints Received
San Francisco 49ers Received
- player Jim Jordan
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On April 23, 1968, New Orleans sent Jim Jordan to San Francisco for veteran defensive end Dan Colchico. Transaction records and Colchico's historical biography agree on the player-for-player exchange. The hindsight evaluation therefore turns on what Jordan produced for San Francisco and what Colchico produced for New Orleans after the trade.
New Orleans Saints Return
New Orleans received Colchico, whose career had been interrupted by a severe Achilles injury suffered with San Francisco in 1965. He spent 1966 rehabilitating and 1967 working as a 49ers defensive-line coach. Colchico did not appear for the Saints in 1968, but he completed the comeback in 1969 and played nine regular-season games for New Orleans. Pro Football Reference credits him with one sack that season. It was a short return, yet the Saints did receive real NFL snaps from the veteran before he retired.
San Francisco 49ers Return
San Francisco received Jordan, a 1967 third-round Atlanta draft choice who had appeared in one game for New Orleans. The 49ers did not get a regular-season appearance from him. Pro Football Archives places Jordan with the Alabama Hawks of the Continental Football League during the 1968 season, confirming that the trade did not turn into on-field NFL value for San Francisco.
Value in Hindsight
This was a minor exchange and should be graded accordingly. Colchico’s nine Saints games were not franchise-changing, but they are a concrete return. San Francisco’s side produced zero regular-season games. The difference is small in absolute value and clear in comparative value.
Final Verdict
New Orleans wins, B- to D+. The Saints received a brief but measurable comeback season from Colchico, while Jordan never appeared in a regular-season game for the 49ers.