Von Miller

Early life

Miller was born on March 26, 1989, in DeSoto, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. He attended DeSoto High School, where he played for the DeSoto Eagles high school football team and ran track. In his junior year, he recorded 37 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, and 12 quarterback hurries. As a senior, he was named the District 8-5A Defensive MVP after making 76 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks. He played with future Aggie teammate Cyrus Gray.

In track and field, Miller competed in events such as the 110 m hurdles (personal record (PR) of 14.38 s), triple jump (PR of 12.65 m), and javelin throw (PR of 37.24 m). Considered 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 offers from Florida, LSU, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech.

College career

Miller attended Texas A&M University, where he played for the Texas A&M Aggies football team from 2007 to 2010. As a freshman at defensive end in 2007, he was named Freshman All-Big 12 by The Sporting News after posting 22 tackles, including 10 solo stops. He recorded two sacks, four tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. He played in a 4–2–5 defense. He weighed 220 pounds during his freshman year.

In spring 2008, newly hired head coach Mike Sherman was discouraged by Miller's habits of skipping class and failing to produce during practice. Sherman decided to suspend Miller for that spring. Disappointed, Miller considered transferring, but upon his father's insistence, stayed. Miller then adopted a more serious attitude.

As a sophomore in 2008, Miller played at weakside linebacker under Joe Kines's 4–3 defense. He saw action in all 12 games, making 44 tackles, including 25 solo stops, and leading the team with 3.5 sacks. He made 7.5 tackles for loss, forced two fumbles, and recovered two more. His role was more confined to pass coverage, as opposed to rushing the quarterback, thus he was not able to showcase his pass-rushing abilities. In his final seven Big 12 games, he compiled just eight tackles.

As a junior in 2009, Miller adopted the role of the jack position, a defensive end/linebacker hybrid, which allowed him to use his pass-rushing abilities. He enjoyed a breakout season for the Aggies, leading the nation in sacks with 17 and ranking fourth in the nation with 21 tackles for loss. For his efforts, Von Miller was named first-team All Big-12 at defensive end and was named a first-team All-American by Sporting News and Sports Illustrated. He became the first Aggie to be named a first team All-American since Jason Webster in 1999. Then-Aggies defensive coordinator Joe Kines compared Miller to the late Derrick Thomas. Miller then studied and watched film of Thomas to familiarize himself with his game.

As a senior in 2010, Miller switched to playing as a 3–4 outside linebacker under Tim DeRuyter's defense. Early in the season, Miller suffered a high ankle sprain that held him back for the first six games. He posted 10.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss. Again he made first-team All-Big 12 honors and won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker. He was also named a consensus first-team All-American. He received first-team All-American honors from Walter Camp, Scout.com, Pro Football Weekly, ESPN.com and the Associated Press. Miller graduated with a degree in poultry science and raises chickens in his spare time.

Personal life

Miller's parents Von and Gloria were both college athletes and own a power supply business. He has a younger brother Vinsynzie "Vins". Having majored in poultry science at Texas A&M, Miller operates his own farm, raising chickens. Miller has had two children with a longtime girlfriend.

On March 8, 2016, Miller was announced as one of the celebrities who would compete on season 22 of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with professional dancer Witney Carson. On May 2, 2016, during a double elimination, Miller and Carson were eliminated and finished the competition in eighth place.

During a Celebrity Wheel of Fortune episode aired January 30, 2022 (the same date Miller's Rams played in the 2021 NFC Championship Game), Miller won the minimum $30,000 for his selected charity, Von's Vision.

Legal issues

In August 2013, Miller was arrested on a failure to appear warrant for driving-related charges in October 2012. In September 2013, Miller was cited for speeding and driving with a suspended license in Arapahoe County, Colorado.

In April 2018, while on a guided fishing tour off the coast of Florida, Miller is alleged to have illegally landed and improperly caught and released a hammerhead shark.

On November 30, 2023, the Dallas Police Department issued an arrest warrant for Miller, alleging that he assaulted a pregnant woman. Miller turned himself in and posted a $5,000 bond and was released. Multiple police sources claimed that the pregnant woman who accused him of assaulting her was in fact his girlfriend and that the incident happened at their home in Dallas on November 29, 2023. She was not hospitalized but was treated for minor injuries. She had previously accused him of assaulting her in 2021 as well although no charges were filed against him. Despite the fact she was found to have abrasions on her left hand and bruises on her neck, abdomen and left bicep after she called the police in November 2023, the girlfriend later recanted the assault claim.