It’s all love between Von Miller and the Broncos.
In preparation to face his former team in the Wild Card round on Sunday, Buffalo’s veteran edge rusher doesn’t want to act like he has hatred toward Denver. The franchise still holds a special place in his heart.
“I’ve had two days to really think about it, and it’s all love,” Miller told reporters in Buffalo on Wednesday. “I can’t even start to play (with) the delusion of hatred … I can’t even start to play that game.
“That would put myself so far in a place that’s not even close to being reality. It would be hurtful to the way I want to play. I love those guys. I love everything about the Denver Broncos.”
In Denver, Miller became one of the top pass rushers in NFL history. Miller totaled 110.5 sacks, was named to eight Pro Bowls and named the 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year during his 10-year career with the Broncos.
In 2015, Miller reached the mountaintop of the NFL after Denver defeated the Carolina Panthers in the Super Bowl — the franchise’s third title. Miller was named the game’s MVP after recording 2.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.
Six seasons later, Miller was traded to the Los Angeles Rams and helped them win Super Bowl LVI. Miller has spent the last three years in Buffalo.
Many years removed from wearing the orange and blue, Miller still plays close attention to the organization.
“I haven’t talked (Broncos quarterback) Bo Nix or follow him on Instagram, but I feel like I know him just by staying in touch with Broncos Country,” Miller said. “I know they are building a new facility, got new jerseys and all the new players.”
Miller said he is still close with cornerback Pat Surtain II, Courtland Sutton and left tackle Garett Bolles, who he speaks with once or twice a month.
After Broncos’ practice on Wednesday, Bolles said in the locker room that he learned a lot from Miller.
“He’s like family. He’s an uncle to my kids,” Bolles said. “We love him dearly.”
Surtain was a rookie when he played alongside Miller in 2021. Although their time together was short, the moments were memorable.
“Him bringing me in as a rookie and teaching me the ways, it was pretty awesome to experience that,” Surtain said. “It’s going to be a huge game for him.
“I’ll tell him right now, ‘It’s our time to shine,’” Surtain said. “He had his time back in his days, but it’s our time to shine now.”
Payton on coaches being looked at for other jobs: For Sean Payton, if his coaches are getting looked at for opportunities elsewhere, that means the team is winning.
Payton said he has a number of assistants on Denver’s staff with the potential of being head coaches someday. Among those is defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
On Monday, Joseph received a request Monday to interview for the New York Jets’ vacant head coaching job, sources told The Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel.
“I really want the best for all of them,” Payton said. “…When I’m just sitting on a golf course, I’ll be able to look at a picture and see these guys in those positions.”
The challenge, however, is minimizing the distractions from interviews with other teams.
“When I had a chance to interview (for a job), my wife wasn’t asking how the game plan was. She was asking, how are the schools in this next city?” Payton joked. “ There’s that balance, and I think the league has looked closely at the windows to do it, and understandably so.”
Surtain, Mims honored by NFLPA: Surtain and returner Marvin Mim Jr. were named First-Team All-Pro by the NFLPA on Wednesday.
They were voted in by their peers across the league.
Surtain, considered the top cornerback in the league and a favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year, totaled four interceptions and 11 passes defended while holding opposing quarterbacks to a 59.1 passer rating when targeted.
“It means a lot coming from your peers,” Surtain said. “It’s a huge honor from that perspective.”
In Mims’ second season, he had a league-high 15.7 yards per punt return. He totaled a career-best 408 yards on 26 returns.
Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.