Von Miller yearns for Broncos reunion: ‘It still feels like home’

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Von Miller’s heart still beats for the Denver Broncos.

He hasn’t played a snap for them in over four-and-a-half years, and yet at one point when he referenced them Wednesday, he referred to the team as “us.” It doesn’t matter that he’s been with three other clubs since then — one of which allowed him to put a second Super Bowl ring on his fingers. He bleeds orange and blue, and Denver is his football home.

Such is his connection to Denver that it remains the focal point for his charity, Von’s Vision. That’s what specifically brought him back to the Front Range on Wednesday, as he provided eye examinations and two pairs of glasses each for over 60 children. It’s remained an annual event, even as his career took him to Los Angeles, Buffalo and, last season, Washington. It’s just part of what he does; his foundation helps pay for necessary eye surgeries for children, too.

“To continually affect the community of Denver, it’s been a huge privilege for me,” Miller said.

But if he had his way, his trip to Colorado would be more than just a visit.

“It still feels like home. Whenever I see the mountains, whenever I see the environment, right when I land … it doesn’t feel like I left,” Miller said. “So, I would love to finish my career here, Would love to come back and be a Denver Bronco and have Von’s Vision days and Von’s Vision events.”

But even though he admits that he’s lobbied both Broncos general manager George Paton and coach Sean Payton, the same roster situation that prevented the Broncos from signing him last year exists this year, too: a crunch at edge rusher.

The two starting spots are locked down to Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper. But such is the Broncos’ edge depth that they are expected to give Jonah Elliss some snaps at inside linebacker during OTAs next month, in part to get 2025 fourth-round pick Que Robinson on the field after showing promise on the practice field last year. Elliss and Dondrea Tillman did nothing to lose snaps last season, so Robinson had to wait until the Broncos’ loss in the AFC Championship Game to flash his talent.

And then there’s the game-day roster-construction conundrum: The Broncos’ rotational edge rushers play special teams. Miller knows that he wouldn’t be in the starting lineup, but …

“Obviously I wouldn’t play special teams,” he said.

And if you activate five edge rushers, since one wouldn’t play special teams if Miller was in uniform, they’d have to go light at another position. In a vacuum in which only the edge position mattered, the Broncos wouldn’t turn down the chance to bring aboard a proven pass rusher on an affordable contract. But roster limits create the conundrum.

“But I will say the type of room that we would have: Outside linebackers, me, Nik Bonitto, we would be a force. Whatever coach that we have going on, I would just contribute to that, the defense that we will have,” Miller said. “I would love to bring back those Super Bowl 50 vibes. I would love to assist and be a vice president to Bo Nix, Courtland Sutton.

“I’ve been the guy, and also I’ve been the vice president as well. I would love to contribute to us getting back to us the glory land and holding up that trophy and confetti falling again. For me, my whole entire life, I’ve helped our guys be the best version of themselves, and I would love to do that back here with the Denver Broncos back home.”

IF VON MILLER CAN’T RETURN TO THE BRONCOS AS A PLAYER, HE WANTS TO DO SO AS AN EXECUTIVE

And to that end, he’s had conversations with Paton about making such a transition — eventually. Miller emphasized that he’s not done with his on-field work yet — “I’m playing for sure,” he said — and who can blame him after a 9-sack season with the Washington Commanders in which he fit perfectly in his late-career niche as a sub-package edge rusher. Even though he remains unsigned, there will be a market for his skill set.

But he’s already decided what he wants his life’s work to be beyond the field. And it’s in the front office. Miller doesn’t see a future for himself in coaching — “not my forte,” as he says — but upstairs, in eventually putting together a roster and an organization.

“For me, I think I just have an eye of bringing the right guys in. I think I have an eye not only for the players, but for the athletic-training staff, for the strength-and-conditioning staff, and, of course, the players,” Miller said. “I know the type of environment that you have to create to have a championship organization, to have a competitive organization.”

But he knows he has much to learn, which is why he picks the brain of Paton.

“George has been so instrumental, and he’s really fanned my flame the same way that (Bills general manager) Brandon Beane did. They’re all for it,” he said.

“If I’m not able to come back and play football, I would love to come back and be a part of the front office. George Paton has been on board with that. Sean Payton — what a coach. He’s coached so many different players, and to come back and have them coach me and his team, I would love to be assistants to whatever they need to bring us back to the glory lane.”

But if that’s the case, Miller’s return to the Broncos may have to wait.

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