Mike Stratton facts for kids
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||
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| Born: | April 10, 1941 Vonore, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Died: | March 25, 2020 (aged 78) Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 224 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||
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| High school: | Tellico Plains (Tellico Plains, Tennessee) |
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| College: | Tennessee | ||||||||
| AFL draft: | 1962 / Round: 13 / Pick: 100 | ||||||||
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David Michael Stratton (born April 10, 1941 – died March 25, 2020) was an American professional football player. He played as a linebacker for 12 seasons. He was part of the American Football League (AFL) and later the National Football League (NFL).
Mike Stratton won two AFL championships with the Buffalo Bills. He was chosen as an AFL All-Star six times. Many remember him for a famous tackle called “The Hit Heard ‘Round the World.” He is considered one of the best defensive players in Bills history.
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Early Life and College Football
Mike Stratton grew up in Tellico Plains, Tennessee. This small town is in the Great Smoky Mountains. Not many football players from his high school went on to play college football. Stratton played many positions in high school. He was a tackle, fullback, and wingback.
He earned a scholarship to play at the University of Tennessee. There, he played as a two-way player. This means he played both offense and defense. He was a tight end on offense and a defensive end on defense.
Professional Football Career
The Buffalo Bills picked Mike Stratton in the 1962 AFL draft. He was chosen in the 13th round. From 1963 to 1968, he was an AFL All-Star for six years in a row.
A Strong Linebacking Team
Bills coach Lou Saban put Stratton with Harry Jacobs and John Tracey. They formed one of the best linebacking groups in football. This trio played 62 games together without missing one. This was a professional football record at the time.
Their strong defense helped the Bills win two AFL championships. They won in 1964 and 1965. In these championship games, the Bills defense allowed only seven points in each game.
The "Hit Heard 'Round the World"
In the 1964 American Football League Championship Game, the Bills played the San Diego Chargers. On the first play of the game, San Diego's Keith Lincoln ran for 38 yards. The Chargers were leading 7–0. Then, Stratton made a huge tackle. He hit Lincoln with his shoulder, which broke Lincoln's ribs. Lincoln had to leave the game.
After that hit, the Bills defense did not let San Diego score any more points. The Bills won the game 20–7. Later in the first half, Stratton also made an important interception. He caught a pass from Tobin Rote. This stopped the Chargers from scoring again. Both the Chargers' coach and quarterback said this play was a turning point.
Career Highlights
Stratton played 11 seasons for the Buffalo Bills. He then played his final season with the San Diego Chargers in 1973. He finished his career with 21 interceptions. Eighteen of these were with the Bills and three with the Chargers. He was also named to the AFL All-Time Second Team.
Later Life
After his football career, Mike Stratton worked as an executive. He worked for an insurance company called Crump Associates in Knoxville, Tennessee. He and his wife had three daughters and one son.
Mike Stratton passed away on March 25, 2020. He was 78 years old. His death was due to heart problems after a recent fall.
See also
- List of American Football League players
