Chicago Bears received George Seals in the exchange with…
Chicago Bears received George Seals in the exchange with Washington. George Seals became a long-term Chicago lineman, staying seven seasons, appearing in 98 games and earning second-team All-Pro recognition in 1968. That durability and peak performance gave the Bears clear realized value from a modest veteran exchange. In hindsight, that direct outcome supports a B+ grade for Chicago Bears. The judgment focuses on what this transaction itself produced rather than unrelated later moves.
Chicago Bears Received
- player George Seals
Washington Commanders Received
- player Ted Karras
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1965-09-07, Chicago Bears and Washington completed a deal in which Chicago Bears received George Seals, while Washington received Ted Karras. The exchange was modest in scale, so the evaluation turns on the actual football value each club received from the players or consideration involved.
Chicago Bears Return
Chicago Bears received George Seals in the exchange with Washington. George Seals became a long-term Chicago lineman, staying seven seasons, appearing in 98 games and earning second-team All-Pro recognition in 1968. That durability and peak performance gave the Bears clear realized value from a modest veteran exchange. In hindsight, that direct outcome supports a B+ grade for Chicago Bears. The judgment focuses on what this transaction itself produced rather than unrelated later moves.
Washington Return
Washington received Ted Karras in the exchange with Chicago Bears. Ted Karras did not become a comparable long-term Washington piece and moved on shortly afterward. Whatever the exact mechanics surrounding his brief stop, Washington did not receive anything close to Seals' multi-year value for Chicago. In hindsight, that direct outcome supports a D+ grade for Washington. The judgment focuses on what this transaction itself produced rather than unrelated later moves.
Value in Hindsight
Chicago received the only durable, high-level football value in the exchange. Seals' seven seasons and 1968 recognition create a wide hindsight gap, while Karras' Washington tenure was fleeting. Because this was not a blockbuster, the grading should remain scaled to a relatively small transaction. The important question is whether one club turned its side of the exchange into clearly better usable football value, not whether either player became a league-wide star.
Final Verdict
The final judgment is Chicago Bears Win. Chicago Bears receives B+, while Washington receives D+. The verdict follows the strongest supported comparison of the direct returns and keeps later, independent roster moves from distorting the value of this particular trade.