Von Miller’s decision to join the Dallas Cowboys may look like a late-career football move, but his former teammate DeMarcus Ware’s story reveals that the connection between Miller and Dallas goes back more than a decade.
Ware recently shared that Miller first mentioned the possibility of playing for the Cowboys back in 2013, shortly after the Denver Broncos defeated Dallas in a wild 51-48 game. Thirteen years later, Miller’s longtime idea has finally become reality.
Von Miller had Dallas on his mind since 2013
According to Ware, Miller brought up the possibility of playing for Dallas after that 2013 matchup. The idea apparently never completely disappeared.
Over the past two months, Miller repeatedly told Ware, “I just feel like something is going to work out.” When the opportunity finally arrived, Ware said Miller felt like a “kid in a candy store.”
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That reaction makes more sense considering Miller’s long-standing connection to the Cowboys. This was not simply a veteran pass rusher looking for another roster spot late in his career. Dallas was a destination he had envisioned for years.
Why Dallas feels like home to Miller
Miller explained the emotional side of his decision during an appearance on the Nightcap show with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson. The Cowboys were the first team to contact him about a week before training camp began, and Miller said the opportunity immediately felt right.
“It just seemed right for me. I live here in the offseason. My mom and dad and my kids are here. I always had a little blue on my heart since I was a little boy. I always paid attention to the Dallas Cowboys,” Miller said.
That explains why the Cowboys’ offer carried more weight than a typical free agent opportunity. Miller already has family roots in the Dallas area, lives there during the offseason, and has followed the franchise since childhood.
For a player entering the later stages of his career, that familiarity can matter. Miller is not arriving in a completely unfamiliar environment. He is returning to a place he already considers home.
Miller still believes he can produce
The emotional connection is only part of the story. Miller also believes he can still make a meaningful impact on the field.
“There is no question about it, I am the best teammate in the history of the National Football League. I know how to bring the guys together,” Miller said. He also made it clear that he does not view himself as a ceremonial addition to the Cowboys’ defense.
“I can still walk into 8-10 sacks now. And that’s just walking in. And I’m going to have opportunities to do it. We have one of the best offenses in the National Football League. I’m going to be able to play with the lead,” Miller said.
Miller pointed to his production last season as evidence that he can still contribute. Despite the Buffalo Bills winning only five games, he recorded nine sacks. “We only won five games last year and I was able to walk into nine sacks,” Miller said. “Just being the type of player I am, even at this stage in my career, I still feel like I can be effective.”
Now, at 37 years old, Miller finally gets the opportunity he once talked about after that unforgettable Broncos-Cowboys shootout.
The Cowboys are betting that the veteran can provide more than sacks. They are bringing in a player who believes he can mentor younger pass rushers, strengthen the locker room, and still make plays when his number is called.
However, the move appears to be about more than football. Dallas is where his family is, where he spends his offseasons and, as he put it, where he has always had “a little blue” in his heart. That makes his arrival in Dallas less a random late-career move and more the fulfillment of a dream that began 13 years ago.
