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. He died in Nellysford, Va., last Thursday of natural causes, according to USC.

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.

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, has died. He was 78. He died of natural causes on March 6 in Nellysford,