Bills LB Von Miller: 'I Know What It Takes' to Be NFL GM
Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller has openly discussed retirement, but has made it clear that he plans on coming out strong in the 2023 season despite suffering a significant knee injury this past November.
Still, Miller, who turns 34 on March 26, will have his whole life ahead of him after football. What's next?
Well, more football. At least from a different perspective.
Miller has a clear vision of being an NFL general manager and is at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis wasting no time trying to soak in all the knowledge. It's a feeling he says has been with him since his days at Texas A&M, but has resurfaced with more impact as of late.
“This is what I want to do,’’ Miller said in an exclusive interview with 9NEWS Denver on Thursday. “I’m here to meet with guys, for the guys to give me instructions on what to do ... and make the first steps to making this happen.”
Miller has proven that no matter what team he's on, the team and locker room view him as an uncontested leader with a powerful voice and presence. Combine that with his charming approach and league-wide respect, it's a career path that makes sense.
The on-field knowledge certainly helps, too.
"I don’t have any experience," Miller said. "I know what a great football team looks like. I know what a winning football team looks like. A great staff, great equipment guys, great athletic trainers. I know what that looks like, I know what it takes to build those teams."
Miller, who showed off at the 2011 combine before being selected No. 2 overall by the Denver Broncos, admits that it was his former general manager, John Elway, that inspired him the most.
“To be honest, the dream it really started with John,’’ Miller said. “To see a former player come back in the league and be a GM and win a Super Bowl as a player and win a Super Bowl as a GM? Oh my gosh."
That inspiration seeped over once he got to Buffalo, as Bills general manager Brandon Beane made Miller feel that the role could be "really attractive."
"You leave and you go to L.A. and you’re around Les Snead and you think you can be a cool GM, too," Miller said. "And then you leave there and go to the Buffalo Bills with Brandon Beane and you think, 'This job is really attractive. What do I have to do next to make this happen?'"
Miller seems to have got some sort of clue at how to make this happen since he's at the combine to talk with what he hinted at could be front office executives.
And who knows? Miller has tons of career accomplishments already checked off his long list. Why not NFL GM?
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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