The Giants acquired center Jim Clack and wide receiver Ernie…
The Giants acquired center Jim Clack and wide receiver Ernie Pough from Pittsburgh on April 17, 1978 for tackle John Hicks. Clack immediately became New York's starting center and started 48 consecutive games over the next three seasons.
New York Giants Received
- player Jim Clack
- player Ernie Pough
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- player John Hicks
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
NFL transaction records, ProSportsTransactions and the 1978 Steelers media guide agree on the complete exchange: Pittsburgh received John Hicks, while New York received Jim Clack and Ernie Pough. The legacy record's extra “undisclosed consideration” on both sides is unsupported and has been removed.
New York Return
Clack became the centerpiece of the deal. The 1979 Giants media guide says he immediately won the starting center job in 1978, played all 16 games, earned second-team All-NFC recognition from UPI and was named the Giants' most valuable player by NEA. Contemporary UPI reporting in 1981 states that Clack started 48 consecutive games at center for New York before retiring. Pough added 12 games for the 1978 Giants as a reserve receiver.
Pittsburgh Return
Hicks had been an accomplished starter before the trade, but his NFL regular-season career ended in 1977. Pro Football Reference records 52 career games and 50 starts, all before he reached Pittsburgh, so the Steelers received no regular-season game value from the acquired player.
Hindsight Comparison
New York converted a player who never appeared for Pittsburgh into a three-year starting center plus reserve receiver depth. Clack's 48 consecutive starts create clear long-term separation between the returns.
Final Verdict
New York Giants Win, B+ to D. Clack alone supplied three full seasons of starting value, while Pittsburgh received no regular-season appearance from Hicks.