The Good, Bad and Ugly of Star QBs Getting Traded Late in Their Careers

Aaron Rodgers is likely to be dealt to the Jets, but only a few signal-callers have gone on to win either an NFL championship or Super Bowl after joining their new teams.

Soon, Aaron Rodgers will be traded to the Jets.

Historically speaking, the four-time MVP could either have a tremendous second act, or the Jets could be the answer to a fun trivia question 30 years from now.

With Rodgers being a surefire Hall of Famer once his career ends, we looked through history at every quarterback immortalized in Canton—or active players who have a shot to get there—and picked out who was traded late in their careers. What was the trade compensation? And how did the deals turn out?

Here’s what we found out:

Bobby Layne

In October 1958, the Lions traded Layne to the Steelers. The return was quarterback Earl Morrall, a ’59 second-round pick and a ’60 fourth-round choice.

Those selections became guard Mike Rabold and defensive tackle Roger Brown. Rabold lasted one year in Detroit, while Brown had a distinguished career, totaling six Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro honors and a spot on the Lions’ 75th anniversary team.

As for Layne, he compiled a 27–19 record across five seasons with the previously moribund Steelers. Layne made the Pro Bowl in 1959 and helped Pittsburgh to the ’62 Playoff Bowl before retiring; ironically, it resulted in a loss to the Lions.

Detroit, famously, hasn’t won a championship since dealing Layne.

Norm Van Brocklin

After spending nine years with the Rams, Van Brocklin was dealt to the Eagles in May 1958, with Los Angeles receiving a ’59 first-round pick, offensive tackle Buck Lansford and defensive back Jimmy Harris.

Philadelphia ended up the clear winner of this deal. Van Brocklin led the Eagles to the 1960 NFL title, handing Packers coach Vince Lombardi his only postseason defeat.

As for the Rams, Lansford and Harris combined to play four nondescript seasons in Los Angeles. The draft pick was turned into running back Dick Bass, who rushed for 5,417 yards over 10 seasons, earning three Pro Bowl berths.

Y.A. Tittle

At 34 years old, Tittle was traded in August 1961 from the 49ers to the Giants, with New York sending guard Lou Cordileone to the Bay Area.

While Cordileone played just one season in San Francisco, Tittle flourished in the Big Apple. The future Hall of Famer played four seasons with the Giants, leading them to three NFL championship game appearances. Tittle also reached three Pro Bowls, was twice named a first-team All-Pro and took home the 1963 NFL MVP.

In both 1962 and ’63, Tittle led the league in touchdown passes with 33 and 36, respectively. 

Johnny Unitas

Despite a storied career with the Colts, Unitas struggled badly over his final five years in Baltimore. From 1968 to ’72, Unitas threw 35 touchdowns against 57 interceptions, but still managed to help the Colts to a victory in Super Bowl V.

Ultimately, Baltimore general manager Joe Thomas traded Unitas to the Chargers in January 1973, getting only future considerations in return.

Unitas played five games for San Diego before being benched for another future Hall of Famer in Dan Fouts. In those games, Unitas went 1–3, throwing seven interceptions. 

Ken Stabler

Stabler was a fantastic quarterback for years with the Raiders, winning MVP in 1974 before hoisting the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy two years later. However, by March ’80, his time had run out in Oakland.

He was traded to the Houston Oilers for quarterback Dan Pastorini straight up. The Raiders, in a bizarre way, ended up winning this deal.

Pastorini was coming off consecutive AFC championship game appearances, but played only five games for the Raiders before breaking his leg. His replacement, Jim Plunkett, took Oakland to a Super Bowl XV victory over the Eagles later that 1980 season and won another title in ’83.

Meanwhile, Stabler led Houston to the 1980 playoffs but lost to the Raiders in Oakland. All told, Stabler lasted two years with the Oilers, throwing 27 touchdowns against 46 interceptions.

Joe Montana

A winner of four Super Bowls and two MVP awards with the 49ers, Montana missed all of 1991 with an elbow injury before being benched in favor of Steve Young in ’92.

In April 1993, Montana was sent to the Chiefs along with safety David Whitmore and a third-round pick, getting a first-round choice from Kansas City in return.

Montana enjoyed two solid years with the Chiefs, taking them to the 1993 AFC title game and their first division title since 1971. Kansas City went 17–8 in Montana’s 25 starts.

The Niners used the Chiefs’ pick to land defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield, who was a star in San Francisco. He made three Pro Bowl trips and became a first-team All-Pro in 1997. He also helped the 49ers win a Super Bowl in ’94. 

Brett Favre

Favre struggled in his only season with the Jets after being traded from the Packers :: Jim O'Connor/USA TODAY Sports

In one of the more infamous deals in NFL history, the Packers dealt Favre to the Jets for a conditional fourth-round pick. It turns out, Green Bay was the runaway winner of the trade.

Favre’s stint with the Jets lasted one forgettable season. He led the league with 22 interceptions, a major part of why New York went from 8–3 to missing the playoffs at 9–7.

As for Green Bay, it began the Rodgers era, which saw the Packers win Super Bowl XLV. Additionally, the selection they received from New York ended up converting to a third-rounder. Green Bay used the choice to trade up in the first round, landing edge rusher Clay Matthews Jr. 

Matthew Stafford

The rare win-win? Perhaps the Stafford deal will rise to that level.

In January 2021, the Lions sent Stafford to the Rams, getting a third-round choice in ’21, first-round picks in ’22 and ’23, and quarterback Jared Goff in return.

Stafford immediately led Los Angeles to a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Bengals, throwing for 4,886 yards and 41 touchdowns during the regular season. However, Stafford played only nine games last season, going 3–6 before being shut down with various injuries, including concussions.

In Detroit, Goff found new life. After a middling 2021 campaign, Goff threw for 4,438 yards and 29 touchdowns, helping him earn a Pro Bowl berth. The Lions also turned those first two draft choices into corner Ifeatu Melifonwu and receiver Jameson Williams. Detroit also has the No. 6 pick in the ’23 draft from the Rams. 

Russell Wilson

Turn away, Broncos fans.

Last March the Broncos acquired Wilson and a 2022 fourth-round pick from the Seahawks, who received two first- and second-round selections, a ’22 fifth-round choice, quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant and defensive tackle Shelby Harris.

Denver then proceeded to sign Wilson to a five-year extension worth $242 million, before watching him throw for 3,524 yards and 16 touchdowns against 11 interceptions, posting a 4–11 record.

Meanwhile, Seattle turned its starting job over to Geno Smith, who passed for 30 touchdowns and earned a Pro Bowl appearance. Also, the three 2022 picks for the Seahawks became left tackle Charles Cross, edge rusher Boye Mafe, and the fifth-rounder was turned into two choices, defensive end Tyreke Smith and receiver Dareke Young.

Matt Ryan

Ryan won MVP honors in 2015 but by the conclusion of the ’21 season was an aging star for the Falcons. After losing out on the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, Atlanta moved Ryan to the Colts, getting back a ’22 third-round pick.

Ryan’s tenure in Indianapolis was a disaster. The four-time Pro Bowler started just 12 games for the Colts, notching a 4–7-1 record before being released after the season.

The Falcons used their extra draft pick to select linebacker DeAngelo Malone, who recorded 29 tackles and a sack as a rookie.