John Tracey
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Tracey was an American football
linebacker
. At Texas A&M University
, Tracey held school records for most receptions and most yards receiving. Another "NFL Reject", when he joined the American Football League
's Buffalo Bills
in 1962, Lou Saban
liked his speed and agility, and used him at linebacker, where with Harry Jacobs
and Mike Stratton
he filled out the AFL's best linebacking crew, playing together for 62 consecutive games from 1963 through 1967, a professional football record. They helped the formidable front four hold opposing teams without a 100-yard rusher for seventeen consecutive games in 1964 and 1965, and achieved American Football League championships
in both those years. In 1963 he led the team with five interceptions. Tracey was an AFL All-Star
in 1965 and 1966.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. At Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, Tracey held school records for most receptions and most yards receiving. Another "NFL Reject", when he joined the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
's Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1962, Lou Saban
Lou Saban
Louis Henry Saban was an American football player and coach. Saban played for Indiana University in college and as a pro for the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference...
liked his speed and agility, and used him at linebacker, where with Harry Jacobs
Harry Jacobs
Harry Edwards Jacobs is a former American college and Professional Football player.A linebacker, he played college football for Bradley University and in the American Football League for the Boston Patriots from 1960 through 1962, and for the Buffalo Bills from 1963 through 1969...
and Mike Stratton
Mike Stratton
David Michael Stratton was an American football linebacker in the AFL and NFL for the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers....
he filled out the AFL's best linebacking crew, playing together for 62 consecutive games from 1963 through 1967, a professional football record. They helped the formidable front four hold opposing teams without a 100-yard rusher for seventeen consecutive games in 1964 and 1965, and achieved American Football League championships
Professional American football championship games
Below is a list of professional football championship games in the United States, involving:* the informal Pittsburgh circuit of professional football teams ;...
in both those years. In 1963 he led the team with five interceptions. Tracey was an AFL All-Star
American Football League All-Star games
-All-League Teams:The Sporting News published American Football League All-League Teams for each season played by the American Football League, 1960 through 1969...
in 1965 and 1966.