Von Miller just described exactly how he can help the Dallas Cowboys’ Super Bowl aspirations in 2026
The Dallas Cowboys are getting more than an outside linebacker in Von Miller. In his eyes, they’re getting the greatest teammate in NFL history.
At 37 years old, outside linebacker Von Miller knows his prime is in the rearview mirror. At least, that’s as far as playing football goes—something that so far has yielded him seven All-Pro honors, two Super Bowl wins, and a Super Bowl MVP.
But there’s one thing he firmly believes he can do at a Hall of Fame level. And the way he described it, it’s one of the most valuable thing he brings to the table for the Dallas Cowboys.
Von Miller is no longer elite at football, but he’s an elite teammate
Von Miller can still play football. He made it very clear when he spoke to reporters in his introductory press conference on Tuesday shortly after putting ink to paper on a one-year deal worth up to $7.5 million.
But that’s only a small part of what he believes he can provide the Cowboys. Based on his comments, he’s completely ready to be take on a mentor role.
“I can still play football, and I can still contribute in other ways,” Miller said. “I’ve been on Super Bowl teams and it’s not just one person that gets it done. You can say what you want to say about my play on the field, what I’ve got left. But when it comes to being a great teammate, if there was a Hall of Fame for that, I’m going in the Hall of Fame I’d be first ballot.”
For Miller, that’s not a casual remark. In fact, it was perhaps the largest message he sent throughout the entire press conference. He prioritizes being a teammate so much that he believes he’s got a unique place in NFL history because of it.
“To be honest, I’m probably the best teammate that’s every played in the National Football League,” Miller said. “And I say that with all the confidence in the world.”
How does that help the Cowboys?
Unlike sacks and pressures, there’s not a tangible way to count how Miller’s presence in the locker room raises the floor of the Cowboys defense. But in his opinion, it’s something that elevates the play of his teammates on gameday.
“My ability to get people around me to play at a level that they wouldn’t normally play at, nobody does that like me,” Miller added. “You’ve got a game that you play 50 to 60 snaps, I can win 10 to 15 of those without me even being on the field, without my play. Just by my knowledge of the game and getting everybody else to play at a level that they normally wouldn’t play at.”
Time will tell if Miller indeed has that kind of an impact on the Cowboys defense but I’ll tell you what. For a team that preaches culture so much under head coach Brian Schottenheimer, he sure talks like someone ready to buy in. And he has a plan going into his Cowboys days.
“I lead with love first,” Miller said. “I like to really learn my teammates. Whether it’s where they come from, how many kids they’ve got, what food they like, do they hunt or fish, whatever it is. You can’t treat everybody the same [. . .] You’ve got to really learn these guys.”
On defense, first-time defensive coordinator Christian Parker (who briefly overlapped with Miller in Denver) is getting significant buy in from his defense. Schottenheimer said earlier in the year there are often players lined up his office. The same players are often overcommunicating on the field and being loud, unlike last year’s unit.
Miller appears to be ready to add to that culture.
“The No. 1 thing for me is to be the best teammate that I can possibly be to help everybody improve, whether it’s offense, defense, or special teams to win a championship,” Miller said.
And on top of it all, Miller believes he can still play football after getting nine sacks with the Washington Commanders last year. The Cowboys don’t need him to start at outside linebacker. But they do need him to deliver in the leadership he’s promising on his first day on the job.
