Mike Battle, the Jets defensive back and kick returner known best for his first big play for the Green & White in a 1969 game that paradoxically didn't count yet figured bigtime in franchise history, has died. Battle, who was 78, reportedly died of natural causes on March 6 in Virginia.
That big play was a punt return in the summer of 1969. The occasion was the first meeting between the Jets and the Giants on Aug. 17, but the events of that third preseason game are remembered still. The Jets had just triumphed over the Colts in Super Bowl III on Jan. 12 earlier that year, fascinating football fans everywhere, except perhaps in their hometown, where Big Blue still reigned supreme.
The Jets dearly wanted to win this game and cement their status as the best team in New York as well as in pro football. And Battle, then a low-round rookie draft choice from Southern Cal, played an instrumental role in their 37-14 win over the Giants before a Yale Bowl crowd of 70,874.
The Jets opened a 17-0 lead in the first quarter, then 1:45 into the second quarter, Battle ran one back with a bang — an 86-yard punt-return dash through the Giants coverage that ended with a hurdle over punter Dave Lewis and a sprint to the end zone for the TD that made it 24-0.
"It was a great feeling," Battle said before explaining the play and his leap for success: "I know that kind of thing can be dangerous. I used to hurdle in college and was told to stay on the ground. But I knew Lewis would try to get me to go to the sideline. As soon as he did, I jumped. I sure as hell wanted to go all the way."
His teammates took time out from savoring the victory to praising their new No. 40 and his big coming-out bolt of lightning.
"I won't say that punt return clinched a job for Battle," head coach Weeb Ewbank said, "but if I were a betting man, I wouldn't bet against him making this club."
"It was one of the greatest runs I've ever seen," said LB Al Atkinson. "He jumped that guy right in front of us and it was really something."
"It was a hell of a run," S Jim Hudson said. "It's been three years since our special teams have run one back. And when a rookie turns in a run like that, he should be congratulated."
Battle's congratulations for the entirety of his two-season pro career, both spent with the Jets, came as a returner after having led college football in punt returns in 1967 and '68 and setting Trojans return records that still stand. As for defense, he was an All-American and a frontline member of USC's 1967 national championship team.
He was selected in the 12th round (311th overall) of the 1969 AFL-NFL combined draft, and earned the Jets' return gig early on from Ewbank and his staff. For his pro career, Battle returned 53 punts for an average of 6.6 yards/return and 71 kickoffs at 23.1 yards/return. In 1970, the first season of the AFL-NFL merger, he led the Jets' new league with 40 kickoff returns, and his 1,993 total return yards in 1969-70 combined were the fourth-most in pro football.
As a defensive back, Battle played in all 29 of the Jets' games in 1969-70, including the '69 AFC playoff loss to Kansas City, but had no starts playing behind Bill Baird and just one interception. That came in the Jets' first return to the Orange Bowl following their Super Bowl triumph, when he took a pick of QB Rick Norton to the Dolphins 6 to set up the Jets' first TD in their regular-season finale, a 27-9 win over the 'Fins before taking on the Chiefs.
Off the field, Battle appeared as the character named "Rabbit" in the 1970 film "C.C. and Company," which famously starred his Jets teammate Joe Namath and actress Ann-Margret.
He is survived by his wife Laura and children Christian Michael, Hunter, Frank, Michael, Kathleen, Murphy and Annie.
