San Diego traded guard Larry Little to Miami for cornerback…
San Diego traded guard Larry Little to Miami for cornerback Mack Lamb after two seasons of uncertainty about Little’s role and conditioning. Lamb never appeared in another professional game, while Little developed into one of the defining offensive linemen of the 1970s and eventually entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Chargers surrendered elite future value and received essentially no on-field return.
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- player Mack Lamb
Miami Dolphins Received
- player Larry Little
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
On July 2, 1969, the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers exchanged two former high school teammates: guard Larry Little went to Miami and cornerback Mack Lamb went to San Diego. Dolphins historical records list the transaction directly. Contemporary retrospectives and the Pro Football Hall of Fame also describe Little’s move from the Chargers to Miami before the 1969 season.
What Miami Got
Little became one of the best players in franchise history. He earned an AFL All-Star selection in his first Miami season, then developed under Don Shula into a dominant right guard. Little was a five-time first-team All-Pro, a key lineman for the Dolphins’ powerful rushing attack, and a central piece of the teams that reached three consecutive Super Bowls and won championships after the 1972 and 1973 seasons. His career ultimately earned induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
What San Diego Got
The Chargers received Mack Lamb, but the return produced no comparable value. Historical accounts of the deal note that Lamb never played another professional down after the trade. San Diego’s frustration with Little’s conditioning and uncertainty about how to use him explains why the club was willing to move him, but the outcome was devastating in hindsight. The Chargers gave away a future Hall of Famer for a player who did not contribute.
Final Verdict
Miami wins decisively. The Dolphins acquired a foundational offensive lineman for virtually no realized cost and received more than a decade of elite play, championships, and Hall of Fame value. San Diego’s D reflects the absence of any meaningful return, while Miami’s A- captures one of the franchise’s most productive acquisitions without treating hindsight as if Little were already a finished star in 1969. The disparity is enormous: one side received a Hall of Fame cornerstone and the other received no lasting on-field value.