Editing Mike Stratton (section)

==Professional career ==
Drafted out of college by the [[Buffalo Bills]] in the 13th round of the [[1962 AFL draft]], Stratton was selected as an [[AFL All-Star]] six straight seasons from 1963 through 1968.<ref name="pfr">{{Cite web |title=Mike Stratton Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StraMi01.htm |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=malorana_03252020>{{cite news|last=Malorana|first=Sal|title=Mike Stratton, who made one of the most famous plays in Buffalo Bills history, dies at 78|date=March 25, 2020|newspaper=Rochester Democrat and Chronicle|url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/football/nfl/bills/2020/03/25/mike-stratton-buffalo-bills-legend-dies-age-78-linebacker-keith-lincold/5080489002/|access-date=March 26, 2020}}</ref> Bills coach [[Lou Saban]] teamed him with [[Harry Jacobs (American football)|Harry Jacobs]] and [[John Tracey]] to form one of the best linebacking crews, playing together for 62 consecutive games from 1963 through 1967, a pro football record. They helped the Bills defense hold opposing teams without a 100-yard rusher for seventeen consecutive games in [[1964 AFL season|1964]] and [[1965 AFL season|1965]], capturing [[AFL championship]]s in both years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Harry Jacobs|date=July 25, 2012 |publisher=Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame|url=https://www.buffalosportshallfame.com/member/harry-jacobs/|access-date=March 26, 2020}}</ref>

In the [[1964 American Football League Championship Game|1964 AFL Championship Game]] against the [[San Diego Chargers]], Stratton made the memorable "hit heard 'round the world".<ref name=buffhof>{{cite web|publisher=Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame|url=https://www.buffalosportshallfame.com/member/mike-stratton/|title=Mike Stratton|date=July 25, 2012 |access-date=March 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/amid-all-his-honors-one-big-hit-defined-mike-strattons-great-bills-career/article_815cb12b-cdf0-566c-a3c3-01e45130851f.html|title=Amid all his honors, one big hit defined Mike Stratton's great Bills career|date=March 26, 2020|agency=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Northrop, Milt|accessdate=February 13, 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211225559/https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/amid-all-his-honors-one-big-hit-defined-mike-strattons-great-bills-career/article_815cb12b-cdf0-566c-a3c3-01e45130851f.html|archivedate=February 11, 2022}}</ref> San Diego's [[Keith Lincoln]] had a 38-yard run on the game's opening play.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/mike-strattons-hit-heard-round-the-world-a-bills-gift-for-the-ages/article_cb5c1ab8-7849-5565-ad4d-384b81e4b0c7.html|title=Mike Stratton's 'Hit Heard 'Round the World': A Bills gift for the ages|date=December 26, 2019|agency=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Brady, Erik|accessdate=February 13, 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211225622/https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/mike-strattons-hit-heard-round-the-world-a-bills-gift-for-the-ages/article_cb5c1ab8-7849-5565-ad4d-384b81e4b0c7.html|archivedate=February 11, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/stratton-has-a-vision-of-hit-against-lincoln/article_ed0adcd4-cc28-5192-a483-250105b51c56.html|title= Stratton has a vision of hit against Lincoln|date=January 10, 1992|agency=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Sullivan, Jerry|accessdate=February 13, 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211225422/https://buffalonews.com/news/stratton-has-a-vision-of-hit-against-lincoln/article_ed0adcd4-cc28-5192-a483-250105b51c56.html|archivedate=February 11, 2022}}</ref> The Chargers were leading 7–0 when Stratton drove his shoulder into Lincoln's midsection, breaking the star [[running back]]'s ribs and knocking him out of the game.<ref name=malorana_03252020/><ref name=buffhof/> The Bills shut out San Diego for the rest of the game, and won 20–7.<ref name=buffhof/> In the closing minutes of the first half with Buffalo leading 13–7, the Chargers drove to the Bills' 15, but Stratton [[intercepted]] a [[Tobin Rote]] pass to end the threat. Rote and San Diego coach [[Sid Gillman]] called the turnover a decisive play.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mike Stratton's 230 Pounds Helped Bills|date=December 28, 1964|newspaper=The Herald-News|page=37|agency=AP|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47439176/|access-date=March 27, 2020|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> The combined efforts of players such as defensive tackle [[Tom Sestak]], cornerback [[Butch Byrd]], and others led to two Bills championships, where they allowed seven points in each contest.

Stratton played 11 seasons for the Bills before ending his career with the Chargers in 1973. He finished his career with 21 interceptions—18 with the Bills and 3 with the Chargers.<ref name=malorana_03252020/> He was selected to the [[American Football League All-Time Team|AFL All-Time Second Team]].<ref name="bleacher">{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/395320-the-best-outside-linebackers-not-in-the-pro-football-hall-of-fame#page/12 |title=The Best Outside Linebackers Not in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame |website=bleacherreport.com |date=May 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007074452/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/395320-the-best-outside-linebackers-not-in-the-pro-football-hall-of-fame|archive-date=October 7, 2010}}</ref>