Blockbuster Trades: NFL Multiple Choice Quiz | NFL Players

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 1920, the Akron Pros and Buffalo All-Americans got together to make the biggest trade in NFL history up to that point, even though it only included one player. Who did Buffalo receive from Akron in the first known trade in NFL history?

Answer: Bob Nash

Little else is known about Bob Nash's career for Akron or Buffalo. In his entire 6-year 33-game career, he played for 4 teams, also the Rochester Jeffersons in 1924, and the New York Giants in their inaugural 1925 season as mostly a tackle or end. Nash caught 6 career passes for 74 yards and 3 touchdowns, had 1 career rush for 9 yards for the Giants, and returned an interception for a touchdown for Buffalo in 1922. Bob Nash will never be remembered for his statistical presence, but will always be known as the first man ever traded to another team in the NFL.

2. On March 26, 1953, the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Colts got together for the largest trade in the NFL at that point in time. Four Pro Bowlers were included in the deal that sent Mike McCormack, Don Colo, Tom Catlin, John Petitbon, and Herschell Forester to Cleveland, and Bert Rechichar, Art Spinney, Carl Taseff, Ed Sharkey, Gern Nagler, Harry Agganis, Dick Batten, Stu Sheets, Elmer Willhoite, and this future Hall of Famer (albeit as a coach) to Baltimore.

Answer: Don Shula

Don Shula played for 7 years in the NFL as a defensive back, intercepting 21 passes and never making a Pro Bowl. However, after retiring following the 1957 season, he found much more success as a coach. Shula coached the Baltimore Colts from 1963-1969 and the Miami Dolphins from 1970-1995, racking up 347 total victories and 2 Super Bowls.

3. March 23, 1959, brought together two teams that would eventually move out of their respective cities. The Los Angeles Rams had no problems giving up 8 players; Ken Panfil, John Tracey, Frank Fuller, Glenn Holtzman, Art Hauser, Larry Hickman, Don Brown, and a player to be delivered in training camp (2 of them Pro Bowlers), and a Round 2 draft pick (eventually Harold Olson, who made a Pro Bowl) for what 5-time Pro Bowl running back from the Chicago Cardinals?

Answer: Ollie Matson

The trade may have seemed like a good idea at the time in Los Angeles, but Ollie Matson reached his last Pro Bowl in 1957, two years before going to the Rams. Though he would go on to rush for 863 yards and 6 touchdowns in 1959, Matson would never break the 500-yard mark in a single season for the rest of his career. For Chicago, the trade went equally as bad. John Tracey would make both of his Pro Bowls after the trade, but in 1965 and 1966 for the Buffalo Bills, and Harold Olson would never end up playing in Chicago, making his only Pro Bowl in 1961, oddly enough also with the Bills.

4. The Baltimore Colts knew well before May 1, 1984, that they would have to make a trade on that day, but they weren't sure with who it would be. It ended up that they would be swapping with the Denver Broncos in one of the first known forced draft day trades. The Colts sent which future Hall of Famer to Denver for Mark Herrmann, Chris Hinton, and a 1984 round 1 pick (eventually Ron Solt)?

Answer: John Elway

During his first year in the league, John Elway shared time with Steve DeBerg and threw twice as many interceptions and touchdowns (14-7). While people then questioned why the Broncos would give up so much for a backup quarterback, he would take Denver to a 13-3 season the very next year, and eventually two Super Bowl victories. Mark Herrmann, another quarterback, played for 11 years but never made a single Pro Bowl. Chris Hinton, an offensive lineman, would make 7 Pro Bowls for 3 different teams, and Ron Solt would make a single Pro Bowl for the Colts.

The Baltimore Colts made this trade in 1983, and moved to Indianapolis in 1984 when they picked Ron Solt.

5. On April 28, 1987, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers made what was eventually one of the most lopsided draft day trades in NFL history. Tampa Bay received second and fourth round picks in the 1987 draft, eventually Winston Moss and Bruce Hill, for what future Hall of Fame quarterback, then labeled a bust for the Bucs?

Answer: Steve Young

Steve Young played two seasons in Tampa Bay, both ending in 2-14 records. The Buccaneers then decided that Young was an obvious bust in the NFL, and sent him off to San Francisco to be a backup for Joe Montana. As it would end up, Young was not exactly a bust, as we would find out following his two Super Bowl victories (three if you include his backup role) and induction into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

6. On Halloween of 1987, 3 teams got together to make a 10-player deal. Initially it seemed that the Los Angeles Rams got the upper hand, receiving Pro Bowler Greg Bell, Owen Gill, and 6 draft picks (eventually Gaston Green, Cleveland Gary, Darryl Henley, Aaron Cox, Fred Strickland, and Frank Stams) from Buffalo and Indianapolis. Buffalo only received the rights to Cornelius Bennett, a future 5-time Pro Bowler. However, Indianapolis received what future Hall of Fame running back, who would rush for over 1000 yards in a mere 9 games for the Colts in 1987?

Answer: Eric Dickerson

Eric Dickerson had his best year in his career for the Rams in 1984, running for 2105 yards and 14 touchdowns. However, Dickerson was not past his prime when traded to Indianapolis during the 1987 season. Dickerson would rush for 1011 yards in his 9 game with the Colts in 1987, 1659 yards in 1988, and 1311 yards in 1989. He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

7. On April 17, 1999, during the 1999 NFL Draft, perhaps the most confusing of all NFL trades ever made took place. In his third year as coach of New Orleans, Mike Ditka traded away every single pick the Saints had, along with picks from rounds 1 and 3 of the 2000 draft to the Washington Redskins and the Chicago Bears. Notables from those picks are Champ Bailey for the Redskins, and Marty Booker and Jerry Azumah for the Bears. What Pro Bowl running back did New Orleans give up their entire 1999 draft for?

Answer: Ricky Williams

Not surprisingly, 1999 was Mike Ditka's last year as a head coach in New Orleans. Ricky Williams never lived up to the hype he was given while in New Orleans, but had a career year in 2002 in Miami with 1853 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Saints made the playoffs in 2000 by winning the NFC West, but did not make it back until 2006, when they won the NFC South after the divisional reconstruction. Champ Bailey was picked seventh overall in 1999, 2 picks behind Williams, and made 6 Pro Bowls in his first 8 years in the NFL.

8. On April 18, 1998, the San Diego Chargers and Arizona Cardinals couldn't decide on who should draft a bigger NFL bust. The Chargers decided to take the initiative, sending 3 draft picks and 3-time Pro Bowler Eric Metcalf for the #2 pick in the 1998 draft. Arizona would waste their first pick on defensive end bust Andre Wadsworth, but then drafted 2 Pro Bowlers in Corey Chavous and David Boston. Who did San Diego receive in this trade, deemed one of the biggest NFL busts of all-time?

Answer: Ryan Leaf

Ryan Leaf was hyped up to be just as good, if not better than the quarterback taken in 1998, Peyton Manning. Leaf would end up playing for 3 years in the NFL, finishing with a career quarterback rating of 50.0, and throwing for 3666 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 36 interceptions. In the 2004 season alone, Peyton Manning threw for 4557 yards, 49 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

9. Following in the steps of John Elway, Eli Manning forced the San Diego Chargers into a deal on April 24, 2004, the first day of the 2004 NFL Draft. Manning refused to sign with the Chargers, and so after drafting him first overall, promptly traded him away to the New York Giants. In return, the Chargers received the rights to Philip Rivers and 3 draft picks. One of those picks was traded away, but the other two players picked would be Pro Bowlers along with Rivers. Nate Kaeding was chosen later in the 2004 draft, but what 2005 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year did San Diego choose with New York's 1st pick in the 2005 draft?

Answer: Shawne Merriman

The first time that the Giants and Chargers played after the 2004 draft, the San Diego fans booed Manning every time he stepped on the field. However, they should have applauded him, having received 3 Pro Bowlers thanks to his refusal to play in San Diego. In Rivers' first complete year, the Chargers went 14-2 and won the AFC West, while Manning's Giants have gone 25-23 since 2004.

10. On October 13, 1989, the Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, and San Diego Chargers got together to put together what was at that time the largest trade ever made. The Chargers simply received Darrin Nelson from the Vikings through the Cowboys. However, the Cowboys got Jesse Solomon, David Howard, Isaac Holt, Alex Stewart, and 8 draft picks which included the 1990 pick that would end up being Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith from the Vikings. In return, the Vikings received a draft pick from the Chargers, 3 more picks from Dallas, and a 2-time Pro Bowl running back that would never break 1000 yards in Minnesota. Who was this back that the Vikings were so desperate to get?

Answer: Herschel Walker

Herschel Walker made 2 Pro Bowls during his first 3 years in the NFL, but he would never accomplish that feat again in his entire career. In his 3 years in Minnesota, Walker's season high was 825 yards and 10 touchdowns in 1991, the year before he was traded to Philadelphia.

Naturally, Walker would break the 1000 yard mark in his first year in Philly, but it was also the last time he did so. Had he continued his pace he set for himself in Dallas, Herschel Walker would certainly be a favorite for the Hall of Fame, but unfortunately he did not live up to the first few years of his NFL career for the rest of his time in the league.

Source: Author illiniman14

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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Blockbuster Trades: NFL Trivia Quiz

Throughout their careers, several great players were traded for other greats, lesser players, and money. But can you tell which player got traded for whom and what?

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