Minnesota acquired quarterback Kent Nix from Pittsburgh on…
Minnesota acquired quarterback Kent Nix from Pittsburgh on September 2, 1970 for the 1971 fifth-round pick that became Fred Brister at No. 128. Nix did not appear in a regular-season game for the Vikings and was released before joining Chicago. Brister was selected by Pittsburgh but never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. Since neither incoming asset produced on-field value for the acquiring club, the trade finishes even.
Minnesota Vikings Received
- player Kent Nix
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- pick 1971 fifth round pick (#128-Fred Brister)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Pittsburgh traded quarterback Kent Nix to Minnesota on September 2, 1970 for a fifth-round choice in the 1971 draft. Steelers historical records identify that selection as No. 128 overall, which Pittsburgh used on Mississippi linebacker Fred Brister. The Vikings were seeking experienced quarterback depth; the Steelers chose to convert a reserve passer into future draft capital.
What Minnesota Received
Nix had real NFL experience before the trade, including nine starts for Pittsburgh in 1967 and three more in 1968. That background made him a logical depth addition behind an established Vikings roster. His Minnesota stay, however, never produced regular-season value. Transaction records show the September 2 move to the Vikings followed by his release. Nix then landed with Chicago and made his lone 1970 regular-season appearance for the Bears, not Minnesota. Whatever insurance the Vikings hoped to buy never reached the field.
What Pittsburgh Received
The Steelers successfully obtained a future fifth-round selection and used it on Brister at No. 128 in 1971. The draft connection is supported by Pittsburgh’s historical trade record and contemporary draft listings. Brister, however, did not become an NFL regular-season contributor. The pick therefore supplied roster-building opportunity but no realized playing value for Pittsburgh.
Final Verdict
Neither side can claim a meaningful hindsight advantage. Minnesota acquired an experienced quarterback but received no regular-season snaps from him. Pittsburgh acquired a draft choice, but the selected player never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. The transaction made reasonable sense for both clubs at the time, yet the realized return was essentially zero on each side. C grades and an Even Trade verdict reflect that balance without rewarding either team merely for the form of the asset it acquired.