Detroit acquired Hall of Fame back Ollie Matson from Los…
Detroit acquired Hall of Fame back Ollie Matson from Los Angeles for veteran guard Harley Sewell on August 20, 1963. The famous names outweigh the actual return: Matson appeared in eight Lions games, rushing 13 times for 20 yards and catching two passes for 20 more, while Sewell played only two Rams games. Detroit gets a narrow edge on slightly greater usable service.
Detroit Lions Received
- player Ollie Matson
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player Harley Sewell
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
By August 1963, both clubs were moving on from decorated veterans whose best seasons were behind them. Matson had been one of football's premier all-purpose threats and eventually entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but his Los Angeles role had shrunk sharply by 1962. Sewell, meanwhile, had spent a decade with Detroit, made four Pro Bowls, and was coming off a 13-game 1962 season. The August 20 swap therefore exchanged recognizable veteran talent for recognizable veteran talent without draft compensation.
What Detroit Received
Detroit received Matson at age 33, but not the peak version that had dominated earlier in his career. He appeared in eight games for the Lions, carried 13 times for 20 yards, caught two passes for 20 yards, and returned three kickoffs for 61 yards. He did not start a game, and his Detroit tenure ended after that season. His later rebound in Philadelphia does not add value to what the Lions actually received from this trade.
What Los Angeles Received
Sewell had been a durable championship-era Lion and a recent Pro Bowler, yet his Rams chapter was even shorter. He appeared in only two games in 1963 and started one before his NFL career ended. Los Angeles therefore converted Matson into a respected lineman, but realized almost no sustained playing value from the exchange.
Final Verdict
Detroit Lions Win, narrowly. Neither club extracted meaningful long-term value, so the grades should stay modest. Matson's eight appearances, limited offensive production, and kickoff work still exceeded Sewell's two-game Rams stay. Detroit earns a C+ and Los Angeles a D+, reflecting a small realized-value edge rather than the star power attached to either name.