David Michael "Mike" Stratton (April 10, 1941 – March 25, 2020) was an American professional football player best known for his time as a hard‑hitting linebacker. He played 12 seasons across the American Football League and the National Football League, and is most closely associated with the Buffalo Bills teams that won championships in the mid‑1960s. Stratton first came to wider attention as a collegiate player with the Tennessee Volunteers.
Early life and college
Stratton was born in Vonore, Tennessee, and attended the University of Tennessee, where he played for the Volunteers. At Tennessee he developed the tackling technique, pursuit angles and football instincts that later defined his professional career. Coaches and teammates from his college years cited his work ethic and consistency as factors that helped him make the jump to the professional ranks.
Professional career
Stratton began his professional career in the early 1960s and spent the bulk of his playing days with the Buffalo Bills, later finishing his career with the San Diego Chargers. He played during a transitional era in which the AFL and the NFL competed and then merged, and his dozen seasons in pro football reflect both durability and adaptability. Stratton was widely respected for his reliability on defense and for being a steady presence in both run defense and pass coverage.
Playing style and legacy
Stratton was known for a physical, disciplined approach to the linebacker role. He combined textbook tackling with the aggressiveness typical of defenders of his era, and he is frequently mentioned in discussions of the Bills' formative championship teams. His play helped define an identity for Buffalo's defenses in the 1960s, and fans and historians recall him as part of the franchise's early success.
Later life and death
After retiring from playing, Stratton remained associated with former teammates and with the community of fans who remember the AFL years. He died on March 25, 2020, at age 78 after suffering a heart attack that followed a fall. Obituaries and team remembrances noted his contributions to the Bills' championship era and his standing among players of his generation.
Notable facts and further reading
- Spent 12 seasons in the AFL/NFL and is best known for his role with the Buffalo Bills.
- Developed as a collegiate player with the Tennessee Volunteers while attending the University of Tennessee.
- Often cited in retrospectives on the style and culture of professional football in the 1960s; see general professional football resources for era context.
For overviews of the linebacker position and its evolution, see material on the linebacker role. For historical context about the AFL–NFL era and team histories consult summaries of the NFL and team archives such as those maintained for the Buffalo Bills and other franchises.