Expansion Atlanta acquired veteran linebacker Larry Morris…
Expansion Atlanta acquired veteran linebacker Larry Morris from Chicago for two draft choices. The draft trail ties those assets to a 1967 sixth-rounder used on Virgil Carter and a 1968 third-rounder used on Major Hazelton. Chicago earns the stronger grade because two future picks outlasted one season of Morris. Atlanta obtained credible veteran leadership, but paying both a sixth and a third for a player near retirement shifted the value toward the Bears.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- player Larry Morris
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 1967 sixth round pick (#142- Virgil Carter )
- pick 1968 third round pick (#57-Major Hazelton)
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Expansion Atlanta acquired veteran linebacker Larry Morris from Chicago for two draft choices. The draft trail ties those assets to a 1967 sixth-rounder used on Virgil Carter and a 1968 third-rounder used on Major Hazelton. The exchange made sense as a roster decision for both clubs at the time: Atlanta Falcons received Larry Morris, while Chicago Bears received 1967 sixth round pick (#142-Virgil Carter); 1968 third round pick (#57-Major Hazelton). The historical terms are stated at the level the surviving team and transaction records support, without attaching an uncertain draft choice to a named player when that link is not secure.
What Atlanta Falcons Received
Morris brought championship experience and local recognition to a first-year Falcons roster, but his Atlanta tenure was short. He appeared in 12 games in 1966 and retired before the 1967 season, limiting the long-term return on two draft choices. For Atlanta Falcons, the grade weighs the immediate role of the acquired asset, how long it remained useful, and whether any draft capital created a later roster return. That keeps the evaluation centered on football value rather than the reputation of the names involved.
What Chicago Bears Received
Chicago converted an aging veteran into two future selections, including a third-rounder. Virgil Carter later became an NFL quarterback and Major Hazelton supplied another roster opportunity, giving the Bears more long-horizon value than Atlanta received. For Chicago Bears, the same standard applies: games played, starting value, later movement, and the practical quality of any selection received. A late pick is not treated like a premium asset, and a veteran who never reached the regular season does not receive credit for value that never materialized.
Final Verdict
Chicago earns the stronger grade because two future picks outlasted one season of Morris. Atlanta obtained credible veteran leadership, but paying both a sixth and a third for a player near retirement shifted the value toward the Bears. The final grades are Atlanta Falcons C and Chicago Bears B+. The verdict is based on the strongest supportable description of the transaction and the career value that followed. That produces a complete historical judgment while keeping the package faithful to what the available football records can actually establish.