Dallas acquired Hall of Fame receiver Lance Alworth from the…
Dallas acquired Hall of Fame receiver Lance Alworth from the Chargers in May 1971 for Pettis Norman, Ron East and Tony Liscio. The move was connected to the Cowboys' simultaneous Lance Rentzel deal with the Rams, but the Chargers' direct return came from Dallas. Alworth immediately helped a championship offense and scored the first touchdown of Dallas' Super Bowl VI victory.
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Lance Alworth
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- player Pettis Norman
- player Ron East
- player Tony Liscio
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
On May 19, 1971, Dallas acquired Lance Alworth from the San Diego Chargers for tight end Pettis Norman, defensive tackle Ron East and tackle Tony Liscio. The transaction was connected to a separate same-day Cowboys-Rams move that sent Lance Rentzel to Los Angeles for Bill Truax and Wendell Tucker. Contemporary accounts often describe the activity together because Dallas was reshaping its receiving corps in one sweep, but the Alworth portion directly matched the Cowboys and Chargers.
Why Dallas Wanted Alworth
Alworth was already one of pro football's defining deep threats and had built a Hall of Fame résumé with the Chargers. Dallas did not need him to reproduce his peak AFL numbers. The Cowboys needed another dangerous receiving option for a roster ready to win immediately, and his route-running, speed and experience fit that window.
What the Chargers Received
Norman became the most useful piece of San Diego's return. East also joined the Chargers, while Liscio retired before reporting and later returned to Dallas after an injury created a need on the Cowboys' offensive line. That unusual sequence weakened the practical value of the package.
The Championship Effect
Alworth's Dallas tenure lasted only two seasons, but the first one mattered enormously. The Cowboys won Super Bowl VI after the 1971 season, and Alworth caught the game's opening touchdown from Roger Staubach. A veteran acquisition that directly contributes to the franchise's first championship carries value beyond raw career totals.
Why the Rams Appear in the Story
Rentzel's move to the Rams and the arrival of Truax and Tucker were parallel pieces of Dallas' wider reshuffle, not additional consideration that San Diego received for Alworth. Separating those paths keeps the seven-player story understandable.
Final Verdict
Dallas wins because it turned three outgoing players into a still-dangerous Hall of Fame receiver who helped finish a championship season. The Chargers received some useful talent, but not comparable historical impact.