Von Miller has spent his NFL career competing alongside some of the greatest players of his generation. Now entering his 16th season with the Dallas Cowboys, the future Hall of Famer explained how those relationships helped shape the player and person he became.

Speaking on Champion Mindset with two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier, Miller reflected on the people who pushed him throughout his career. He wasn't always the most talented athlete in the room. But playing alongside better players pushed him to keep competing and improving. 

“Especially when you compete on a high level with guys, iron sharpens iron," said Miller. "You know, I'm going to get better; they're gonna get better. And I've always been in those types of environments since I started playing sports.”

During the episode of Champion Mindset with Daniel Cormier on August 25, via YouTube, Miller pointed to a long list of stars who influenced him, including Champ Bailey, DeMarcus Ware, Brian Dawkins, Peyton Manning, Aaron Donald, Matthew Stafford, Andrew Whitworth and Jalen Ramsey. 

For him, being around that level of talent created an environment where everyone was constantly pushing the other side to improve.

That approach has been a constant throughout Miller's career. The Broncos selected him No. 2 overall in 2011, and he won Defensive Rookie of the Year before becoming one of the league's premier pass rushers.

Miller recorded a franchise-record 18.5 sacks in 2012 and eventually helped Denver win Super Bowl 50. He recorded 2.5 sacks against the Carolina Panthers to win Super Bowl MVP honors.

The Broncos traded Miller to the Los Angeles Rams during the 2021 season. He won another Super Bowl that year before spending three seasons with the Buffalo Bills and one with the Washington Commanders.

Miller has 138.5 career sacks, tied for ninth all-time. The Cowboys signed him after he recorded nine sacks in Washington last season.

Miller adds veteran experience to Dallas

The Cowboys needed more depth on the edge, and Miller joined a group featuring Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Malachi Lawrence, James Houston and Tyrus Wheat.

At 37, Miller isn't expected to handle a massive workload. He averaged 24.7 defensive snaps per game last season, but his experience gives Dallas another proven pass rusher to rotate into Christian Parker's new defensive scheme.

His arrival also played a part in one of Dallas' more notable roster decisions. The Cowboys released Sam Williams despite re-signing him to a $2 million deal in March, as reported by Bailey Bassett of ClutchPoints on August 30.

Williams had 8.5 sacks in his first two seasons but managed only one sack last year after returning from a torn ACL.

With Miller and several younger edge rushers ahead of him, Dallas ultimately chose a different direction.

Miller has already learned from some of football's best. Now, the Cowboys are hoping that experience can help their new-look defense when the games start to matter

Written by

Evince Das