American defensive back and a member of USC’s 1967 national championship team who later played two seasons for the New York Jets, has died. He was 78.He died of natural causes on March 6 in Nellysford,

Mike Battle, an All-American defensive back and a member of USC's 1967 national championship team who later played two seasons for the New York Jets, died last week. He was 78.

Defensive back Mike Battle, who won a National Championship at the University of Southern California before being drafted by the New York Jets in 1969, has died. The South Gate, Calif., native was 78.