Cleveland's 1955 swap of Marion Motley for Ed Modzelewski…
Cleveland's 1955 swap of Marion Motley for Ed Modzelewski paid off quickly. Motley, already 36 and near the end of his career, lasted only seven games in Pittsburgh. Modzelewski led Cleveland with 619 rushing yards and contributed to a championship team. The difference in immediate realized value makes the Browns the clear winner, with a B+ against Pittsburgh's D+.
Cleveland Browns Received
- player Ed Modzelewski
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- player Marion Motley
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Cleveland sent veteran fullback Marion Motley to Pittsburgh for Ed Modzelewski in September 1955. The trade paired a famous but aging star with a younger player who could contribute immediately. Contemporary reporting later pointed to the swap as a successful Cleveland move, and the subsequent production explains why.
Cleveland Browns Return
Cleveland received Modzelewski and immediately extracted meaningful value. He led the Browns with 619 rushing yards during a championship season, giving the club useful production in the same year as the trade. That is a strong return for a player Cleveland was willing to exchange for a 36-year-old veteran. A B+ rewards both the production and the timing of the move.
Pittsburgh Steelers Return
Pittsburgh received Motley, one of the great players of his era, but the Steelers acquired the late-career version rather than the player who had built that reputation in Cleveland. Motley appeared in only seven games for Pittsburgh. His historic stature cannot substitute for the limited return the Steelers actually received from this transaction, which pushes their grade down to D+.
Value in Hindsight
This deal is a reminder that name recognition and trade value are not the same thing. Cleveland moved on at the right time and received productive help for a title-winning team. Pittsburgh acquired the bigger name but only a fraction of his earlier performance. The realized value gap is clear even without treating the trade as a franchise-altering blockbuster.
Final Verdict
Cleveland Browns Win. Cleveland earns a B+ for Modzelewski's immediate contribution, while Pittsburgh earns a D+ for receiving only seven games from an aging Motley.