Former Buffalo Bills star Von Miller has struggled to regain his All-Pro form after a 2021 injury, taking on a minor role with the Washington Commanders this season but failing to reach his past heights.
Miller is part of the team’s defensive line rotation, playing close to 40% of defensive snaps while making 1.5 sacks through the first four games. Though the 36-year-old has slowed a bit and is no longer a force in the pass rush, he said this week that he has no plans of retiring anytime soon.
Von Miller Mentions Another Former Bills Player
Appearing on the “Glory Daze” podcast, Miller said he recently had a revelation about how to end his playing career.
“Why rush it?” Miller said.
The former All-Pro said he thought about former Bills left tackle Jason Peters, who played well into his 40s after starting his career as a tight end with the Bills in the early 2000s.
âLike, why rush the retirement thing?” Miller said. “Iâm still playing. Jason Peters. He just retired. He was 42 years old. Iâm 36. If I can still play football, Imma play football. At the same time, you donât want to get kicked out of the league, but I donât want to leave early.â
The Bills released Miller in March and it took him until July to sign with the Commanders. Miller said it was a bit trying to spend so long waiting for another team.
âOffseasonâs been a little bit longer than I expected it to be, but thatâs just how itâs supposed to be,â Miller said, via The Associated Press. âWhenever you have all this time, you reminisce and you think back about all these OTAs and these summer training sessions where youâre like, âMan, why I gotta be here? Why I gotta be here? OTAs, why I gotta do this?â And now youâre sitting at home like, âMan, I wish I was at OTAs right now.ââ
Miller said this summer that he had no plans of retiring, believing he still had a lot to offer for a new team.
âIâm a locker-room guy through and through, and I can still roll out of the bed and rush the passer,â Miller said. âThatâs what I got.â
Bills Turned to New Pass Rushers
The Bills cut ties with Miller in a cap-saving move, ending a tenure that began with promise but ended with disappointment. Miller had a strong start with the Bills, making 8.0 sacks through his first 11 games in 2021, but suffered a torn ACL. He returned the next October but struggled, making no sacks and just three total tackles in 12 games that season.
Miller did have some strong moments, including a fumble recover against the Baltimore Ravens in last year’s playoff win that he returned deep into Baltimore territory.
The Bills made some big investments in their pass rush after cutting Miller, using several of their top draft picks on defensive linemen and edge rushers. The team also signed defensive end Michael Hoecht and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, both of whom were hit with six-game suspensions by the NFL for violating rules against performance-enhancing drugs.
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