Von Miller, Jay Ajayi, and more: Best mid-season trades that led teams to the Super Bowl since 2016
With the trade deadline having come and gone, several teams have made big moves to bolster their rosters ahead of the Super Bowl. Many teams in the past have managed to pull off massive moves to add the missing piece during the season, which led them to the Super Bowl the very same year.
In the past decade, several teams have made significant mid-season trades to bolster their rosters and ultimately win the Super Bowl. The New England Patriots traded linebacker Kyle Van Noy to the Detroit Lions in late October 2016, providing much-needed depth to their defense. Van Noy had an immediate impact, contributing to the Patriots' 28-3 comeback victory in Super Bowl LI.
Later that year, the Miami Dolphins traded RB Jay Ajayi to the Philadelphia Eagles just before the deadline. Despite initial struggles, Ajayi proved to be a key player for the Eagles, rushing for 408 yards in seven games and playing a crucial role in the team's Super Bowl LII victory over the New England Patriots.
Perhaps the most prominent example is the Los Angeles Rams' trade for defensive end Von Miller from the Denver Broncos in 2021. The Rams moved up two spots in the draft and gave up their two second-round picks in exchange for Miller. Miller had a stellar impact, recording five sacks in eight regular-season games and four more in the playoffs, including the Super Bowl LVI championship.
In 2022, the Kansas City Chiefs traded for Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who became a vital player during the playoffs. Toney's fourth-quarter touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles secured the Chiefs' first Super Bowl win in back-to-back years.
The following year, the Chiefs made another mid-season trade, acquiring Mecole Hardman from the Jets for one sixth-round pick. Hardman quickly became a key contributor, catching the game-winning touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVI, helping the Chiefs win their second consecutive championship.
Finally, in 2025, the Seattle Seahawks added offensive and special teams depth by trading for wide receiver Rashid Shaheed from the New Orleans Saints. While Shaheed's initial performance was modest, he stepped up during the playoffs, returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers and helping the Seahawks secure their third Super Bowl victory.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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