Chicago Bears received 1963 sixth round pick (#80-John…
Chicago Bears received 1963 sixth round pick (#80-John Johnson (Howard)) in the exchange with Pittsburgh Steelers. Chicago used the acquired sixth-rounder on John Johnson, who became a six-season Bears defensive lineman and supplied far more sustained value. Against Pittsburgh Steelers' return of Ken Kirk, that outcome supports a B+ grade. The transaction is judged as Chicago Bears Win, with the mark based on the football value that actually followed from the deal.
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 1963 sixth round pick (#80- John Johnson (Howard))
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- player Ken Kirk
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers completed this transaction on 1962-09-06. Chicago Bears received 1963 sixth round pick (#80-John Johnson (Howard)), while Pittsburgh Steelers received Ken Kirk. The historical record supports the core package, so the fairest comparison is the football value each side actually realized after the exchange.
Chicago Bears Return
Chicago used the acquired sixth-rounder on John Johnson, who became a six-season Bears defensive lineman and supplied far more sustained value. That outcome supports the B+ grade assigned to Chicago Bears. The mark gives credit for value traceable to this deal, including playing time, starts, meaningful role performance, or the verified downstream use of a draft choice. It stays proportional to the size of the transaction instead of treating every acquired asset as equally valuable.
Pittsburgh Steelers Return
Ken Kirk's stay in Pittsburgh was brief, so the Steelers received only limited return from the player side of the exchange. That outcome supports the C grade assigned to Pittsburgh Steelers. The same standard applies here: realized production and verifiable downstream use matter more than the nominal label attached to the asset. That keeps the comparison focused on what the club actually received rather than hypothetical value that never became part of the return.
Value in Hindsight
Chicago used the acquired sixth-rounder on John Johnson, who became a six-season Bears defensive lineman and supplied far more sustained value. Ken Kirk's stay in Pittsburgh was brief, so the Steelers received only limited return from the player side of the exchange. Taken together, those outcomes explain the grade spread. A useful veteran can outweigh a low draft choice when the pick produces little, while a draft asset can win the comparison when it becomes a productive player or creates meaningful value in a later move. The margin here is scaled to the actual difference in team return rather than the reputation of the names involved.
Final Verdict
Chicago Bears Win. Chicago Bears receives a B+, while Pittsburgh Steelers receives a C. The grades reflect the documented exchange and the value that followed from it, with the final margin tied to the importance and longevity of the returns.