Year-by-year look at Von Miller
A timeline of Von Miller’s career in Denver.
April 28, 2011:Broncos draft Miller No. 2
The first selection of the John Elway/John Fox Era was Miller, drafted to improve the NFL’s worst pass rush (23 sacks in 2010).
“The reason we decided to go with Von Miller was his explosiveness, both in coverage and as a pass rusher,” Fox said. “He’s a rare talent, there’s no doubt. He seems to have that uncommon ability to be great.”
In a Denver Post poll, 65.2% of the 1,493 votes gave the Broncos an “A” for the pick.
Sept, 18, 2011:First career sack
In the Broncos’ 24-22 win, Miller sacked Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton for a 13-yard loss early in the fourth quarter. He celebrated with a Mile High Salute.
Oct. 2, 2011:First multi-sack game
Green Bay rolled up 507 yards in a 49-23 rout of the Broncos at Lambeau Field, but Miller posted his first two-sack game.
Nov. 4 and Nov. 18, 2012:“He’s crazy right now”
Twice in a span of three weeks, Miller had three sacks — at Cincinnati (31-23 win) and vs. the Chargers (30-23 win) — to give him a league-high 13.
“Man, he’s crazy right now,” teammate Elvis Dumervil said after the Chargers game.
Dec. 23, 2012:Broncos’ single-season sack record
In the Broncos’ 10th consecutive win, a 34-12 rout of Cleveland at Mile High, Miller posted 1 1/2 sacks to break the team single-season record of 17 set by Dumervil in 2009.
“(The record) just says a lot about the type of defense we’re playing, the type of teammates I’ve got, the coaches we’ve got,” Miller said. “It was a joint effort to get it done.”
Miller finished 2012 with 18 1/2 sacks, which remains the single-season team record.
March 5, 2013:Super Bowl guarantee
On Twitter, Miller guaranteed the Broncos would win the Super Bowl. In an interview with The Post the next day, Miller cited a family member’s recent car accident as the motivator for his guarantee.
“That was the whole feeling behind this guarantee,” he said. “It wasn’t because I felt all co*cky.”
July 22, 2013:NFL suspends Miller
The NFL suspends Miller four games for violating the league’s drug policy. “I know I did nothing wrong,” Miller said on Twitter. He appealed the ruling.
Aug. 11, 2013: Traffic violations equal arrest
Miller was arrested at the Centennial Gun Club on a failure-to-appear warrant for traffic violations after the Colorado Bureau of Investigation ran the standard background check for a person attempting to purchase a gun. The warrant was issued in January 2013.
Aug. 20, 2013:NFL hands Miller six-game ban
Miller was suspended for the first six games for violating the NFL’s drug policy. The suspension usually carries a four-game ban for first-time offenders, but the league discovered several other incidents in which Miller was non-compliant of the policy. Miller said in a statement his suspension was not due to “a positive test.”
Dec. 22, 2013:Knee injury ends lost year
Miller’s forgettable season — five sacks in nine games — ended during the Broncos’ 37-13 win at Houston when he sustained a torn right ACL.
October 2014:Healthy, on a roll
Back from his ACL injury, Miller had two sacks in the Broncos’ first three games, but then erupted for consecutive two-sack games against Arizona, the Jets and San Francisco.
“That’s how the game goes sometimes. You get in a groove,” Miller said after the 42-17 win over the 49ers.
2015 postseason:Dominant vs. Patriots, Panthers
Miller had 11 sacks in the Broncos’ first 17 games and then had a monster postseason.
He had five tackles and 2 1/2 sacks in the AFC championship game win over New England. Two weeks later, he had six tackles, 2 1/2 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in the Super Bowl win over Carolina.Miller is one of only 10 defensive players to win Super Bowl MVP. It was be his last postseason game for the Broncos.
July 15, 2016:Record-setting contract
Miller signed a six-year, $114.5 million contract that included $70 million guaranteed.
The total value and average salary of $19.083 million were both records for non-quarterbacks.
Nov. 27, 2016:Career-high 10 tackles
In the Broncos’ 30-27 home overtime loss to Kansas City, Miller had three sacks and matched a career-high with 10 tackles. He exited with a league-high 12 1/2 sacks, but had only one sack over the final five games.
Dec. 11, 2017:Record for double-digit sack years
The Broncos broke an eight-game losing streak with a 23-0 win over the New York Jets at home. Miller had one sack to reach 10 for the season, setting the franchise record for most double-digit sack seasons (six).
Sept. 10, 2018:Three sacks to start ’18
In Bradley Chubb’s NFL debut, Miller took center stage among the defense with seven tackles and three sacks in the 27-24 win over Seattle. It would be Miller’s final game with more than two sacks for the Broncos.
Oct. 16, 2018:Setting tone before trip to Arizona
With the Broncos mired in a four-game losing streak following a 2-0 start and facing a short week to play at Arizona, Miller fell slightly short of guaranteeing a win. “I wouldn’t say it’s a must win, but we’re going to kick their (butt). Make sure you put that up there.”
Two nights later, Miller had two sacks and two forced fumbles (one recovery) in the Broncos’ 45-10 win.
Nov. 18, 2018:Miller joins 100-sack club
In a 23-22 win at the Chargers, Miller’s 10th sack of the season was the 100th of his career (regular season/playoffs). He reached the milestone in his 121st game, the fifth-fastest in NFL history for players who began their career in 1982 or later.
Dec. 15, 2018: Miller becomes all-time Broncos sack leader
In a loss to Cleveland, Miller sacked Baker Mayfield for his 98th regular-season sack, breaking the Broncos franchise record previously held by Simon Fletcher (97 1/2).
Sept. 8, 2020:Freak injury ends season
During an indoor practice six days before the season opener against Tennessee, Miller sustained an ankle injury (dislocated tendon). He was placed on injured reserve and did not play a game in ’20.
March 16, 2021:Back for another year
The Broncos announced Miller’s contract option would be exercised.
Sept. 12, 2021:Fast start to comeback year
In his first regular-season game since the 2019 finale, Miller had two sacks in the Broncos’ win over the New York Giants.
Sept. 30, 2021:Fast start rewarded
Miller, who had four sacks in the Broncos’ 3-0 start, is named AFC Defensive Player of the Month.
Oct. 21, 2021:Ankle injury in final game
Miller sustains an ankle injury late in the first half of the Broncos’ loss at Cleveland. It would be his last game with the organization.
Monday:Miller traded to Rams
The Broncos agreed to trade Miller to the Los Angeles Rams for second- and third-round draft picks in 2022 and pick up $9 million of his remaining salary.
