Chicago sent quarterback Rudy Bukich to Pittsburgh on August…
Chicago sent quarterback Rudy Bukich to Pittsburgh on August 31, 1960 for the Steelers' 1963 first-round selection, later No. 11 overall. Bukich gave Pittsburgh two seasons of quarterback depth and some starting work, while Chicago controlled a premium future asset. The Bears later reacquired Bukich in a separate 1962 transaction, but the 1960 exchange itself still favored Chicago's first-round return.
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 1963 first round pick (#11-Dave Behrman)
Pittsburgh Steelers Received
- player Rudy Bukich
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Did
The Bears traded quarterback Rudy Bukich to Pittsburgh on August 31, 1960 for the Steelers' first-round choice in the 1963 draft. Chicago's all-time trade history lists the transaction directly, and later draft records trace the selection to No. 11 overall. Bukich then spent the 1960 and 1961 seasons with Pittsburgh before returning to Chicago in a separate 1962 exchange.
Why the Value Tilted
Pittsburgh's C+ reflects that Bukich was not dead money. He gave the Steelers veteran quarterback depth, made starts, and remained an NFL-caliber passer. A team can rationally value immediate quarterback help more highly than a distant pick. Still, surrendering a future first-rounder is a major cost, especially when the acquired player stays only two seasons before being moved again.
How the Outcome Aged
Chicago's side requires care because the later 1962 Bears-Steelers transactions involving Bukich and Ed Brown have complicated pick movement. Those later deals should be treated separately rather than merged backward into this one. For the 1960 exchange, the supported fact is straightforward: Chicago sent Bukich away and received Pittsburgh's 1963 first-round selection. Controlling that premium asset was more valuable than the short Pittsburgh stint that followed.
Final Verdict
Chicago earns a B and the win for obtaining a first-round choice from a veteran quarterback it later managed to reacquire. Pittsburgh receives a C+ because Bukich supplied legitimate short-term use but not enough sustained value to justify the original price. The margin is not enormous, and the later transactions deserve their own treatment, but this initial 1960 swap leans clearly toward the Bears.