Cleveland acquired center John Morrow from the Los Angeles…
Cleveland acquired center John Morrow from the Los Angeles Rams on March 14, 1960 for center Art Hunter. Morrow became Cleveland's starting center for seven seasons, started 90 games for the Browns, earned two Pro Bowl selections and finished with 60 team Approximate Value, giving Cleveland the stronger long-term return.
Cleveland Browns Received
- player John Morrow
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Art Hunter
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Contemporary career retrospectives and historical football research agree on the transaction: Cleveland and Los Angeles exchanged centers on March 14, 1960, with John Morrow going to the Browns and Art Hunter going to the Rams. This was a direct player-for-player deal, so the hindsight comparison is unusually clean for a trade from this era.
Cleveland's Return
Morrow immediately took over at center in Cleveland and became a durable fixture. Pro Football Reference credits him with 90 games and 90 starts for the Browns from 1960 through 1966, and the Browns' career Approximate Value table gives him 60 AV during that span. He earned Pro Bowl selections after the 1961 and 1963 seasons. Historical research on Morrow also notes that he was the Browns' center during the club's 1964 championship season, giving Cleveland both longevity and high-level team value from the swap.
Los Angeles' Return
Hunter was not a throw-in. He had already been a Pro Bowl center in Cleveland and gave the Rams five seasons after the trade. Pro Football Reference records 54 Rams games and 38 starts from 1960 through 1964, with 24 team Approximate Value, and he was recognized as a second-team All-Pro in 1960. Los Angeles therefore received a productive veteran starter rather than a failed return.
Value in Hindsight
The difference is duration and peak value. Morrow produced substantially more starts and more than twice Hunter's team AV for his acquiring club, while also adding two Pro Bowl seasons. Hunter still supplied several years of starting-caliber play, which keeps the Rams grade well above average and makes this a strong return on both sides rather than a one-sided failure.
Final Verdict
Cleveland Browns Win. Morrow earns Cleveland an A for seven seasons of starting work, two Pro Bowl selections and championship-era value. Los Angeles earns a B+ because Hunter delivered five seasons, 38 starts and an All-Pro-caliber first year. The Browns won the exchange because Morrow provided the longer and more valuable post-trade career, not because the Rams received little in return.