Atlanta acquired veteran linebacker Larry Morris from Chicago…
Atlanta acquired veteran linebacker Larry Morris from Chicago on September 8, 1966 for a 1967 sixth-round pick and a 1968 third-round pick. Morris played 12 games for the expansion Falcons in his final NFL season but did not start a game.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- player Larry Morris
Chicago Bears Received
- pick 1967 sixth-round pick (No. 142; Virgil Carter )
- pick 1968 third-round pick (No. 57; Major Hazelton)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
The 1968 draft-transaction ledger resolves the legacy placeholder as a two-pick package. On September 8, 1966, Chicago sent veteran linebacker Larry Morris to the expansion Falcons for Atlanta's 1967 sixth-round choice and 1968 third-round choice. The Bears used No. 142 in 1967 on BYU quarterback Virgil Carter and No. 57 in 1968 on Florida A&M defensive back Major Hazelton. The old row's duplicate undisclosed-consideration placeholders are removed.
Atlanta's Return
Morris was a decorated veteran, including years as a Chicago starter, but the trade came at the end of his career. Pro Football Reference records 12 games for Atlanta in 1966 with no starts, and that was his final NFL season. He provided experienced depth to an expansion roster, but the Falcons received only one season of limited on-field value.
Chicago's Return
The Bears turned the package into two players who reached the regular-season roster. Carter appeared in 18 games with seven starts for Chicago from 1967 through 1969. His best stretch came in 1968, when he went 4-1 as a starter, threw for 769 yards and four touchdowns, and rushed for 265 yards and four more scores. Hazelton played all 14 games as a rookie and nine more for Chicago in 1969 before finishing his career with New Orleans.
Final Verdict
Chicago Bears Win. Chicago earns an A- because two mid-to-late-round assets became real NFL contributors, including a quarterback who won four of five starts in 1968. Atlanta earns a C because Morris did provide veteran depth, but only for one non-starting season. The realized multi-player return gives Chicago a substantial hindsight advantage.