Chicago acquired defensive back George Youngblood from New…
Chicago acquired defensive back George Youngblood from New Orleans for a 1970 fifth-round selection. Youngblood started all 14 games for the Bears in 1969, intercepted three passes, and returned one for a touchdown, so Chicago received immediate defensive production. New Orleans used the acquired No. 106 pick on Glenn Cannon, but that selection did not create comparable long-term value. The short duration of Youngblood’s career keeps the deal roughly even.
Chicago Bears Received
- player George Youngblood
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 1970 fifth round pick (#106-Glenn Cannon)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
On September 8, 1969, the Bears acquired defensive back George Youngblood from New Orleans for a 1970 fifth-round draft choice. Chicago’s historical trade log lists the deal, and the draft transaction record identifies the pick as No. 106 overall, later used by the Saints on Glenn Cannon. Saints history also confirms that Youngblood was traded to Chicago in 1969 after two partial seasons in New Orleans.
What Chicago Got
Youngblood gave the Bears immediate value. NFL records show him appearing in all 14 games in 1969, starting all 14, intercepting three passes, and returning one interception for a touchdown. For a fifth-round pick, that is a useful short-term defensive return. The limitation is longevity: 1969 was Youngblood’s final professional season. Chicago therefore bought one season of meaningful starting production rather than a multi-year solution.
What New Orleans Got
The Saints recovered a fifth-round selection and used it on Glenn Cannon. That gave New Orleans a younger asset and another opportunity to build through the draft. Cannon did not develop into a significant long-term NFL contributor, so the pick did not produce a major payoff. Still, the Saints exchanged a player who had appeared in only five games for them across 1967 and 1968 for tangible draft capital, which was a reasonable decision at the time.
Final Verdict
The trade lands close to even. Chicago received the better immediate on-field result because Youngblood started a full season and made plays in the secondary. New Orleans, however, was able to convert a lightly used player into a fifth-round selection. Because Youngblood’s Bears tenure lasted only one year and the Saints’ pick did not create lasting value, neither side built a meaningful long-term advantage. C grades fit both clubs: each obtained something useful, but neither return proved durable enough to claim a clear win.