Von Miller is not done. Not even close.
The future Hall of Fame pass rusher enters the spring of 2026 as one of the most intriguing names still available in NFL free agency — a 37-year-old with 138.5 career sacks, a Super Bowl ring, and a fire that younger players half his age struggle to match. After a quietly impressive 2025 campaign with the Washington Commanders, Miller finds himself at a crossroads that most veterans never survive — and he is walking straight through it.
The 2025 Season That Turned Heads
Nobody expected much from Von Miller when he suited up for Washington last season. At 36, playing on a one-year deal, the expectations were modest at best. What the football world got instead was a reminder of why Miller spent over a decade terrorizing offensive linemen across the NFL.
Miller recorded nine sacks across all 17 regular-season games — his highest single-season output since his monster 2021 campaign with the Buffalo Bills. He played roughly 40 percent of defensive snaps, proving he could still be a dominant rotational weapon even in limited duty. His nine sacks pushed his career total to 138.5, tying the legendary DeMarcus Ware for ninth on the all-time list.
For a player many had quietly written off, the 2025 season was nothing short of a statement.
Miller’s Free Agency and His Next Move
Now unsigned and weighing his options, Miller has made clear he is not retiring. He has expressed a strong desire to return to the Commanders, calling out his loyalty to head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters. Washington, however, has yet to make a move to bring him back.
His second option is the one that pulls at his heart — a return to the Denver Broncos. Miller spent the first decade of his career in Denver, winning Super Bowl 50 MVP honors, earning seven All-Pro selections, and cementing himself as the greatest pass rusher in franchise history. He has openly talked about wanting closure with the organization that traded him away in 2021.
The Broncos, though, present a complicated picture. Denver’s defense led the entire NFL with a franchise-record 68 sacks in 2025. With Nik Bonitto locked in long-term and Jonathon Cooper under contract through 2028, roster space for Miller is thin at best.
Other teams circling include the Chicago Bears, who finished 28th in sacks last season and are actively hunting edge-rush help before the 2026 NFL Draft.
What Makes Miller Still Worth Signing
A few reasons why NFL teams should be paying attention
- He produced nine sacks on just 420 snaps in 2025 — elite efficiency for a rotational player
- His pass-rush IQ is among the highest in the game, built over 15 NFL seasons
- He offers immediate mentorship value to younger edge rushers on any roster
- His motor and work ethic have only intensified with age
- He is only 3.5 sacks away from moving into the top six all time
Any contending team in need of a proven, motivated pass rusher is leaving production on the table by ignoring Miller this offseason.
The Legacy and What Comes Next
Von Miller has accomplished nearly everything the NFL has to offer. Two Super Bowl championships. Eight Pro Bowl selections. A Super Bowl MVP. A career that has spanned three franchises and 15 seasons.
But legacy, for Miller, is not just about the past. Every sack, every strip, every third-down stop in 2026 will push him further up the all-time record books — and closer to a spot in Canton that was already inevitable.
At 37, Von Miller is not chasing one last payday. He is chasing history.
