Von Miller Bio
Vonnie B’VSean Miller, known professionally as Von Miller, is an American professional football linebacker for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Born on March 26, 1989, in DeSoto, Texas, Miller has built a reputation as one of the most decorated pass rushers of his generation, earning seven All-Pro selections and eight Pro Bowl invitations across his career. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion and was named Super Bowl MVP following Denver’s victory in Super Bowl 50.
Drafted second overall by the Denver Broncos in 2011 out of Texas A&M, Miller went on to set franchise sack records in Denver before stints with the Los Angeles Rams and the Buffalo Bills. In 2025, he signed with the Washington Commanders, continuing a career that began as a consensus All-American and 2010 Butkus Award winner in college.
Early Life and Background
Miller was born on March 26, 1989, in DeSoto, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. He grew up in a household shaped by athletics, as his parents, Von and Gloria, were both college athletes. The couple also owns a power supply business. Miller has a younger brother, Vinsynzie, known as Vins.
He attended DeSoto High School, where he played for the DeSoto Eagles and also competed in track and field. On the football field, Miller posted 37 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, and 12 quarterback hurries as a junior. As a senior, he was named the District 8-5A Defensive MVP after recording 76 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks. In track, he participated in the 110-meter hurdles, triple jump, and javelin throw, showcasing the kind of multi-sport athleticism that would later define his NFL career.
Rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Miller was listed as the number-15 weakside defensive end in the nation in 2007. He chose Texas A&M over scholarship offers from Florida, LSU, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech.
Path to Professional Football
Miller played for the Texas A&M Aggies from 2007 to 2010. As a freshman defensive end in 2007, he was named Freshman All-Big 12 by The Sporting News, recording 22 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. A suspension during the spring of 2008, after he skipped class and struggled in practice under new head coach Mike Sherman, prompted him to reassess his approach, and he returned with a more serious mindset at the urging of his father.
As a junior in 2009, Miller moved to the jack position, a defensive end-linebacker hybrid, and enjoyed a breakout season. He led the nation with 17 sacks and ranked fourth nationally with 21 tackles for loss, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors and first-team All-American recognition from Sporting News and Sports Illustrated. In his senior year, Miller won the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker and was named a consensus first-team All-American, despite battling a high ankle sprain early in the season.
Regarded as one of the best 3-4 outside linebackers in the 2011 draft class, Miller was the Defensive MVP of the Senior Bowl. At the NFL Combine, he ranked first among linebackers in the broad jump and the 60-yard shuttle, breaking the combine linebacker record in the latter event with a time of 11.15 seconds.
Von Miller Career
Early Career (2011-2014)
Miller was selected by the Denver Broncos with the second overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft, the highest linebacker taken since LaVar Arrington in 2000. He chose jersey number 58 in honor of Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas. In his very first career play from scrimmage, he forced a fumble against the Oakland Raiders, and he recorded his first sack one week later against Andy Dalton of the Cincinnati Bengals. He was named the 2011 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year after posting 11.5 sacks and earning his first Pro Bowl selection.
In 2012, Miller broke Elvis Dumervil’s Denver single-season sack record with 18.5 sacks and was named first-team All-Pro. A six-game suspension in 2013 for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy cut his season short, and he suffered a torn ACL in December 2013. He returned in 2014 to record 14 sacks and earn another Pro Bowl nod, though the Broncos were eliminated in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Denver Broncos Breakthrough (2015-2017)
Miller reached 50 career sacks in just 58 games in 2015, the third-fastest in NFL history at the time behind only Reggie White and Derrick Thomas. In Super Bowl 50, he delivered a defining performance against the Carolina Panthers, recording 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and six tackles. His strip-sack of Cam Newton late in the fourth quarter sealed Denver’s 24-10 victory, earning him Super Bowl MVP honors and recognition as one of the great defensive performances in Super Bowl history.
In July 2016, Miller signed a six-year, $114.5 million extension with $70 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history at the time. He posted 13.5 sacks in 2016 and was named first-team All-Pro for the third time. In 2017, he notched his fourth consecutive season with at least 10 sacks and was selected to his sixth Pro Bowl.
On March 1, 2016, the Broncos had placed the exclusive franchise tag on Miller before the long-term deal was finalized.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2021)
On November 1, 2021, Denver traded Miller to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for second- and third-round picks in the 2022 NFL draft. He chose jersey number 40, his college number, with the blessing of Rams legend Elroy Hirsch. He made his Rams debut in Week 10 against the San Francisco 49ers and notched his first sack as a Ram against Russell Wilson later in the season.
Miller finished the 2021 regular season with 9.5 sacks and 50 tackles in 15 games. In Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals, he recorded two sacks, helping the Rams to a 23-20 victory and earning his second Super Bowl ring. The performance made him only the second player in NFL history to have multiple-sack games in multiple Super Bowls, tying Charles Haley’s record for career Super Bowl sacks at 4.5.
Buffalo Bills Era (2022-2024)
Miller signed a six-year, $120 million contract with the Buffalo Bills on March 16, 2022. In his Bills debut against the Los Angeles Rams, he delivered two sacks and three tackles for loss. A knee injury on Thanksgiving Day, later revealed to be a torn ACL, ended his 2022 season. He returned in 2023 but struggled for production, finishing with zero sacks in twelve games before being suspended four games in October for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
In 2024, Miller recorded six sacks. In the Divisional Round against the Baltimore Ravens, he recovered a fumble forced by Damar Hamlin and returned it 39 yards to set up a key touchdown in a 27-25 victory. The Bills released him on March 9, 2025.
Washington Commanders Era (2025-Present)
On July 21, 2025, Miller signed a one-year contract with the Washington Commanders worth $6.1 million, with up to $10.5 million in incentives. He chose jersey number 24 in tribute to the late Kobe Bryant and retired cornerback Champ Bailey, who began his career in Washington.
Driving Style and Strengths
Miller built his reputation on elite first-step quickness, bend around the edge, and the ability to convert speed into power against offensive tackles. He has long been regarded as one of the league’s most effective third-down pass rushers, consistently winning with both speed rushes and counter moves. His football intelligence and preparation, honed by studying film of Derrick Thomas, have allowed him to remain productive deep into his career even as his role has evolved.
Notable Events and Milestones
Miller’s two forced fumbles in Super Bowl 50 stand as a defining moment of his career, with the late fourth-quarter strip-sack of Cam Newton widely viewed as one of the most consequential defensive plays of his era. He holds the Denver Broncos’ career sack record with 110.5 sacks and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Team for the 2010s.
Von Miller Career Wins
Miller has earned two Super Bowl championships, with Denver’s victory in Super Bowl 50 and Los Angeles’ win in Super Bowl LVI. He was also named Super Bowl MVP for his performance against the Carolina Panthers. Across his regular-season career, he has been selected to eight Pro Bowls and earned seven All-Pro designations, including three first-team selections.
Super Bowl Highlights
In Super Bowl 50, Miller delivered one of the great defensive performances in championship game history, recording 2.5 sacks and forcing two fumbles in Denver’s 24-10 win over Carolina. The second forced fumble, late in the fourth quarter, ended a potential Panthers go-ahead drive and sealed the victory. In Super Bowl LVI, he added two more sacks in Los Angeles’ 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, joining an exclusive list of players with multiple-sack games in multiple Super Bowls.
Other Awards and Performances
Miller is a seven-time All-Pro and an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, including the 2018 Pro Bowl, where he was named defensive MVP. He is the Denver Broncos’ all-time leader in career sacks, a record he held at the time of his departure from the team in 2021. He was also named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Team for the 2010s.
Von Miller Family
Family Background and Lineage
Miller’s parents, Von and Gloria, were both college athletes and later built a career in the power supply business. His father, Von, played a key role in guiding him back to Texas A&M during a difficult period in his college career, urging him to recommit to his craft. He also has a younger brother, Vinsynzie, known as Vins.
Personal Life
Miller graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in poultry science and operates his own farm, raising chickens. He has two children with a longtime girlfriend. Outside of football, he appeared on season 22 of Dancing with the Stars in 2016, partnered with Witney Carson, and the pair were eliminated in eighth place. He also runs Von’s Vision, a foundation that provides eye care and glasses to underprivileged youth, and won $30,000 for the charity on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune in January 2022.
2025 Season Outlook
Miller entered 2025 as a member of the Washington Commanders after signing a one-year deal in July. The signing marked his fourth NFL team and came after he was released by the Buffalo Bills in March 2025 following a 2024 season in which he recorded six sacks and contributed a key fumble recovery in the Divisional Round victory over Baltimore. The Commanders, looking to add veteran pass-rushing depth, offered Miller a clear opportunity to extend his career.
At age 36, Miller’s role in Washington is expected to focus on situational pass rush and leadership in the locker room, with the team hoping his track record of clutch playoff performances can translate to a new setting. His jersey number 24 choice signals a fresh start while honoring the late Kobe Bryant and former teammate Champ Bailey.
For Miller, the 2025 season represents a chance to add to a resume that already includes two Super Bowl titles, a Super Bowl MVP award, and the Denver Broncos’ all-time sack record, while mentoring a younger generation of edge rushers in Washington.