New Orleans traded tight end Jim Hester to Chicago for…
New Orleans traded tight end Jim Hester to Chicago for defensive end Loyd Phillips in March 1970. Phillips never appeared in a Saints regular-season game and medically retired after the trade because of a chronic vascular condition.
Chicago Bears Received
- player Jim Hester
New Orleans Saints Received
- player Loyd Phillips
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Chicago Bears historical trade records list a March 2, 1970 player-for-player deal: defensive end Loyd Phillips to New Orleans for tight end Jim Hester. The older TradeVerdicts row incorrectly added an undisclosed draft pick to Chicago's return.
New Orleans Return
Phillips did not produce a Saints regular-season appearance. The Texas Sports Hall of Fame biography says he was traded to New Orleans in 1970 and then took medical retirement because of chronic thrombosis phlebitis after a calf injury. His NFL playing record ends with Chicago in 1969.
Chicago Return
Hester did make the Bears roster. Chicago's 1971 media guide says a recurring knee injury limited him to five games in 1970, when he caught seven passes for 54 yards. The return was modest, but it was real regular-season production.
Hindsight Comparison
Chicago received measurable playing value from Hester. New Orleans received no regular-season contribution from Phillips after the trade. With the phantom draft pick removed, the evidence supports a narrow but clear Bears advantage.
Final Verdict
Chicago Bears Win. Chicago receives a C+ for extracting limited usable production from Hester; New Orleans receives a D+ because Phillips medically retired without appearing in a Saints regular-season game.