Green Bay acquired kicker-punter Don Chandler from New York…
Green Bay acquired kicker-punter Don Chandler from New York in January 1965 through a linked third-round-pick exchange that left the Giants with the 1965 No. 33 selection used on Bob Timberlake. Chandler became a key specialist on three straight Packers championship teams. Timberlake made only one of 15 field-goal attempts for New York in 1965, creating a huge Green Bay advantage.
Green Bay Packers Received
- player Don Chandler
New York Giants Received
- pick 1965 third-round pick (No. 33, Bob Timberlake), obtained through the linked pick exchange
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Green Bay announced its acquisition of Don Chandler from the Giants on January 12, 1965, though Packers historical research dates the completed move to January 4. The transaction was connected to a prior exchange of third-round choices: New York ultimately held the Dallas-origin 1965 third-round pick at No. 33, used on Bob Timberlake, while Green Bay obtained Chandler. That reconstruction removes unrelated players that had been attached to the route.
Green Bay's Return
Chandler became a major specialist for Vince Lombardi's final championship teams. In three Packers seasons he made 48 field goals, handled punting duties in 1966 and 1967, and helped Green Bay win three consecutive NFL championships, including the first two Super Bowls. He kicked the overtime winner in the 1965 Western Conference playoff and four field goals in Super Bowl II. Green Bay also inducted him into its team Hall of Fame.
New York's Return
The Giants moved Chandler partly because they did not want to dedicate a roster spot to a specialist. Timberlake, drafted with the linked 1965 third-round choice, was one of the players asked to handle kicking. The experiment went badly: he made only one of 15 field-goal attempts in 1965. New York used four different kickers that season and immediately lost the stability Chandler provided.
Value in Hindsight
Few specialist trades create such a stark contrast. Chandler gave Green Bay reliable kicking and punting during a historic title run, while New York's replacement plan produced one of the league's weakest field-goal performances. The Giants did receive a third-round opportunity, so the move had rational roster logic, but the realized football outcomes separated almost immediately and never came back together.
Final Verdict
Green Bay Packers Win. The Packers earn an A for acquiring a championship-era kicker-punter who delivered in major games and stayed productive for three title seasons. New York receives a D because the pick and replacement strategy failed badly. Chandler was far more valuable to Green Bay than the Giants' return became in New York.