Von Miller

Miller was drafted by the Denver Broncos second overall in the 2011 NFL Draft.[39] He was the highest-selected linebacker since LaVar Arrington went number two to the Washington Redskins in 2000. He also became the Aggies' highest draft pick since Quentin Coryatt, who was selected second overall in 1992.[40] The selection of Miller surprised certain experts. Denver was switching from a 3–4 defense to a 4–3, a defense which seemed counterintuitive to Miller's strengths. Former Broncos quarterback John Elway, who is also the executive vice president of the franchise, said Miller is "a type of guy that comes around every 10 years".[41] On July 28, 2011, Miller signed his rookie contract. He wore number 58 in honor of Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas.[42]

On September 12, 2011, in his first career play from scrimmage, Miller forced a fumble against the Oakland Raiders.[43] On September 18, 2011, he had his first sack on Andy Dalton when the Broncos played the Cincinnati Bengals.[44]

Miller was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his Week 11 performance against the New York Jets.[45] The Broncos made the playoffs and faced off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card Round. In his playoff debut, Miller had three solo tackles and one quarterback hit in the 29–23 overtime victory.[46] In the Divisional Round against the New England Patriots, he had two quarterback hits in the 45-10 loss.[47]

Miller was selected to the 2012 Pro Bowl[48] and was named AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.[49] Overall, in 907 snaps, he recorded 11.5 sacks, 19 quarterback hits and 29 quarterback hurries.[50] He was fined three times during the season.[51] He was ranked 52nd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2012.[52]

Miller got off to a quick start in his second season, registering 10 sacks in nine games. In this period, he recorded 30 quarterback hurries, more than he had during his entire 2011 campaign. Thanks to this tremendous start, he was considered an MVP candidate. On November 16, he was fined $21,000 for a hit on Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton in week 10.[53] He received his second career AFC Defensive Player of the Week honor after recording three sacks and two forced fumbles against the San Diego Chargers the following week.[54] For his efforts during November, he was awarded AFC Defensive Player of the Month. On December 26, 2012, he was announced the starting outside linebacker in the AFC division for the 2013 Pro Bowl.[55] Miller finished the season third in sacks with 18+1⁄2, breaking a Denver Broncos record of 17 previously held by Elvis Dumervil. He also capped off the 2012 season finishing second in voting for Defensive Player of the Year and being named first-team All-Pro.[56] In the Divisional Round of the playoffs, Miller had nine total tackles and two quarterback hits in the 38–35 2OT loss to the Baltimore Ravens.[57]

In 2012, Miller teamed up with Ubisoft, makers of the video game The Hip Hop Dance Experience, to create his own sack celebration dance called the "DeSoto Shuffle" that was inspired by the video game. Each time he performed the dance during a game, Ubisoft made a charitable donation to Von's Vision, a foundation devoted to providing eye care and glasses to underprivileged youth.[58] He was ranked 9th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2013.[59]

Miller (third from right) was one of several NFL players who visited US Army soldiers in Afghanistan during the 2013 offseason.

In July 2013, ESPN reported that Miller had been suspended four games for violating league policy, pending appeal. He tweeted that he did "nothing wrong". In August 2013, he lost the appeal and was suspended for six games. The six-game suspension arose after the NFL learned that he attempted to cheat a drug test. He became eligible to play on October 20, 2013, when the Broncos played the Indianapolis Colts.[60][61] On November 24, in a loss to the New England Patriots, he recovered a Stevan Ridley fumble and took it 60 yards for a touchdown.[62] It was the second touchdown of his career. He did fairly well upon his return, but his season was ended prematurely when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL) on December 22, 2013, during a win on the road at the Houston Texans. Without Miller, the Broncos reached Super Bowl XLVIII, but lost 43–8 to the Seattle Seahawks.[63] He was ranked 76th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2014.[64]

After recovering from his ACL injury, Miller returned for his fourth season with the Broncos.[65] Miller earned AFC Defensive Player of the Month for October.[66] He recorded 14 sacks, 59 tackles, and a forced fumble.[67] In the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Indianapolis Colts, he had six total tackles and one quarterback hit in the 24–13 loss.[68] He earned a Pro Bowl nomination for his 2014 season.[69] He was ranked 33rd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015.[70]

Miller in Super Bowl 50

On September 17, 2015, Miller became the third-fastest player in NFL history to reach 50 career sacks (58 games). The only ones to get there faster than him were Reggie White (40 games) and Derrick Thomas (54).[71] Overall, in the 2015 season, Miller finished with 11 sacks, 35 total tackles, 32 quarterback hits, one pass defended, and four forced fumbles.[72]

In the Divisional Round against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he had two total tackles in the 23–16 victory.[73] During the AFC Championship against the New England Patriots, Miller sacked Tom Brady 2+1⁄2 times, breaking a Broncos single-game playoff record and also had an interception in the second quarter of the game.[74]

In Super Bowl 50, facing the heavily favored Carolina Panthers, who held the top-ranked offense, the Broncos won 24–10. In the first quarter, on a 3rd-and-10 from the 15-yard line, Miller knocked the ball out of Panthers quarterback Cam Newton's hands while sacking him, and defensive end Malik Jackson recovered it in the end zone for a Broncos touchdown, giving the team a 10–0 lead. This was the first fumble return touchdown in a Super Bowl since Super Bowl XXVIII.[75] With 4:51 left in regulation and the Broncos leading 16–10, Miller forced a second fumble from Newton to end the Panthers' potential game-winning drive, and the Broncos offense afterwards scored a touchdown to seal the victory. Miller recorded six tackles, 2+1⁄2 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two quarterback hurries, and was named Super Bowl MVP for his performance.[76] His performance in Super Bowl 50 is widely regarded as one of the greatest individual defensive performances in Super Bowl history.[77][78][79]

Miller was named to his fourth Pro Bowl, earned his second first-team All-Pro, and was ranked 15th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.[80][81][82]

On March 1, 2016, the Broncos placed the exclusive franchise tag on Miller.[83] On July 15, Miller signed a 6-year deal worth $114.5 million featuring $70 million guaranteed with the Broncos. He became the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history, with the highest guaranteed salary.[84][85]

Miller earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week for week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts.[86] He earned AFC Defensive Player of the Month for September.[87] Miller finished the 2016 regular season with 13+1⁄2 sacks and 24 quarterback hits.[88] In the last four games of the season, Miller did not record a sack, which was the longest such stretch in his career.[89] He was named to his fifth career and third consecutive Pro Bowl, and his third first-team All-Pro,[90] and was ranked second by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017 as the highest ranked defensive player.[91]

Miller with the Denver Broncos in 2017

On December 19, 2017, Miller was named to his sixth Pro Bowl.[92] Miller was named the 2018 Pro Bowl defensive MVP.[93] In the 2017 season, he recorded his fourth consecutive season with at least 10 sacks.[94] He was ranked ninth by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.[95]

In the Broncos' 2018 season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, Miller recorded three sacks and seven total tackles in the 27–24 victory.[96] In week 11, Miller intercepted Philip Rivers and returned it 42 yards to set up a touchdown, which helped ignite a 23-22 comeback win over the Los Angeles Chargers, earning him AFC Defensive Player of the Week.[97]

During the 2018 season, Miller recorded his 100th career sack (including postseason sacks), becoming the fifth-fastest player in NFL history to do so.[98][99] He was also selected to the 2019 Pro Bowl as a starting outside linebacker, which was his seventh career and fifth consecutive Pro Bowl.[100] He was ranked 10th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2019.[101]

Miller alongside Derrick Henry at the 2020 Pro Bowl

In week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miller sacked Gardner Minshew twice in the 26-24 loss. Miller's second sack of the game was the 100th sack of his career.[102]

He was also selected to the 2020 Pro Bowl as a starting outside linebacker, which was his eighth career and sixth consecutive Pro Bowl.[103] He was ranked 26th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020.[104] He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Team for the 2010s.[105]

During practice on September 8, 2020, Miller suffered what was called a "freak injury near the ankle", and season-ending surgery was feared to be required. An MRI the next day revealed that the injury was a dislocated peroneal tendon, and Miller was subsequently placed on injured reserve.[106][107]

In March 2021, the Broncos exercised the 2021 year option in Miller's contract.[108] His contract, which entered its final year, guarantees $7 million of his base salary of $17.5 million in 2021.[109]

Miller recorded 4+1⁄2 sacks and 17 tackles in six games.[110] Miller earned AFC Defensive Player of the Month for September.[111] He sprained his ankle against the Cleveland Browns on October 21, 2021, which ended up being his final game as a Bronco.[112]

Miller was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for second- and third-round draft picks in the 2022 NFL Draft on November 1, 2021.[113] At the time of the trade, Miller was the longest-tenured Bronco, and the only remaining nonspecial-teams player from Denver's Super Bowl 50 roster. In an emotional interview following his trade, Miller held back tears, saying, "I love Broncos Country. When I said 'Broncos for life,' I meant that. It was an honor and a privilege to play here."[114] Miller chose to wear number 40 for the Rams, his number at Texas A&M, with the familial blessing of Rams legend Elroy Hirsch, since his number 58 was taken by Justin Hollins.[115]

In week 10, Miller made his Rams debut and tallied three tackles in a 31–10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.[116] In week 15, in a 20-10 home win, Miller notched his first sack as Ram against Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.[117] In week 16, Miller recorded a sack against Kirk Cousins in a 30–23 road win over the Minnesota Vikings.[118] In week 17, Miller had his best game as a Ram by notching two sacks and five tackles, including the game-sealing sack on Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley in the 20–19 victory.[119] Overall in the 2021 season, Miller recorded 50 tackles, 9+1⁄2 sacks, one pass defended, and one forced fumble in 15 games played.[120] Miller helped the Rams win Super Bowl LVI 23-20 against the Cincinnati Bengals.[121] Miller recorded two sacks in the game.[122] His multiple-sack performance makes him only the second player to ever have multiple Super Bowl games with multiple sacks. The other is Justin Tuck of the New York Giants. He also tied Charles Haley's record for most career Super Bowl sacks at 4+1⁄2 sacks, despite playing in three fewer Super Bowls than Haley.[123][124] He was ranked 93rd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022.[125]

On March 16, 2022, Miller signed with the Buffalo Bills on a six-year, $120 million deal.[126] In his debut with the team, he recorded two sacks, two QB hits, and three tackles for loss in a 31–10 Bills victory over his former team, the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL Kickoff Game.[127] During a Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit against the Lions, Miller exited with an apparent knee injury. The next day, Miller was confirmed to be out for at least 2-4 weeks. He was placed on injured reserve on December 1, 2022.[128] During exploratory surgery on his knee, Miller was found to have torn his ACL and would miss the remainder of the season.[129]

Miller was placed on the reserve/PUP list to start the 2023 season.[130][131] He was activated on October 7, 2023.

As of his departure from the team in 2021, Miller holds five Broncos franchise records for sacks, including:

• Career (110+1⁄2 sacks)[132]
• Single season (18+1⁄2 in 2012)[133]
• Playoff career (6+1⁄2)[134]
• Single playoff season (5 in 2015)[135]
• Single playoff game (2+1⁄2 on both January 24, 2016, against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship and February 7, 2016, against the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50)[136]

• Most sacks in the Super Bowl – 4+1⁄2 (50, LVI) (tied with Charles Haley)[137]

In 2012, Miller created Von's Vision Foundation - generally referred to as "Von's Vision" - "to provide low-income students with eye care and fashionable corrective eyewear they need to be their best in the classroom and in life".[145] As of 2019, the foundation is exclusively partnered with international eyewear retailer Etnia Barcelona to provide premium eyewear[146][147][148] through the foundation's twice annual "Vision Day" programs, during which students are also provided eye exams by local eyecare providers.

The "Vision Day" is a two-day-long program. On the first day, students are given their eye exams and the opportunity to pick out their frames. On the second day – after the prescription lenses are produced for the frames - Miller hosts a party where the students have their frames fitted and are able to interact with him personally. Von's Vision began hosting their "Vision Days" for low-income students in the Denver Public Schools - as Miller was then a player for the Denver Broncos - and has since expanded to hosting the program for students at Texas A&M University - Miller's alma mater. Also, at Texas A&M University and multiple locations in Colorado, Von's Vision has launched its "Von's Vision Centers", which are "mobile optometry kiosks that allow in-need students to receive vision care on an ongoing basis without the burden of transportation"[149] - and "Von's Lockers" - which "like the Vision Centers, offer a permanent fixture that gets students brand-new prescription glasses without the burden of transportation. Von's Lockers allow students who already have accurate prescriptions to easily select a new pair of glasses, bypassing the screenings and exams."[149]

As a result of his charitable contributions and impact - along with his leadership on the team and in the Denver community - the Broncos gave him their nomination for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.[150]