For the second straight offseason, future Hall of Famer Von Miller is taking his time in free agency. After the Bills released Miller in a cost-cutting move in March 2025, the edge defender took until July to join the Commanders on a one-year agreement worth up to $6.1MM.
Miller expressed interest in re-signing with the Commanders last November, but almost six months later, nothing has come together with them or anyone else. The 37-year-old is now turning his attention back to Buffalo.
“Man, I would love to go back to the Buffalo Bills,” Miller said on a recent live stream (video via Built in Buffalo).
Miller went on to make a bold prediction: The Bills will win the Super Bowl next season. Rewinding to March 2022, the Bills expected to finally get over the hump when they won the Miller derby in free agency.
Buffalo added the Super Bowl 50 MVP and two-time Lombardi Trophy winner (one apiece with the Broncos and Rams) on a six-year, $120MM contract, though the gamble did not pay off as hoped. Miller looked like his typical self over his first 12 games with the Bills, but he tore his ACL in a Thanksgiving Day win over Detroit and missed the rest of the season, including a second-round playoff loss to the Bengals.
After beginning his second Bills season on the PUP list, Miller returned to log another 12-game slate. However, for the only time in what is now a 14-year career, Miller failed to register a sack. He also went without a sack in a two-game playoff run that ended with a loss to the Chiefs in the divisional round.
Miller went through a third straight limited season in 2024, but injuries were not the issue. Rather, he served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The ban came as a result of a November 2023 arrest on a domestic violence charge. Miller denied the allegations, and charges were never filed.
On the field, Miller bounced back to a degree during a six-sack regular season. He also chipped in a crucial 39-yard fumble return in a 27-25 divisional-round win over the Ravens. The Bills advanced to the AFC title game, but they once again could not get past the Chiefs. That proved to be Miller’s last game with Buffalo, which moved on after the season and replaced him with another accomplished veteran pass rusher in Joey Bosa.
While the Bills’ big-money bet on Miller did not yield the desired results, his modest deal with the Commanders was a clear success. For one, Miller enjoyed his first full season since 2018. Although he was only on the field for 36.87% of defensive plays, Miller easily led the Commanders with nine sacks. He ranked 19th in the league in that category and 20th in pressure rate (per Pro Football Focus).
Despite his quality pass-rushing production in Washington, there is no indication the team plans to re-sign Miller. The Commanders may have closed the door on Miller when they reeled in Odafe Oweh (four years, $100MM) and K’Lavon Chaisson (one year, $12MM) at the outset of free agency.
Like the Commanders, the Bills have been active in addressing their pass rush this offseason. They signed Bradley Chubb, who teamed with Miller in Denver from 2018-21, to a three-year, $43.5MM pact and used their first draft pick (No. 35 overall) on former Clemson edge defender T.J. Parker.
Jim Leonhard, another of Miller’s former Denver teammates, is now Buffalo’s defensive coordinator. With the Bills transitioning from a 4-3 base to a 3-4 under Leonhard, they will turn to Chubb and Greg Rousseau as their starting outside linebackers. Parker and Michael Hoecht are next on the depth chart. Hoecht tore his Achilles last November, leaving his status for the start of next season uncertain. Javon Solomon and Andre Jones are the Bills’ only other options at the position, though they may be content with the group after picking up Chubb and Parker.
A reunion with the Bills may not be in the cards for Miller, but the eight-time Pro Bowler should land a contract before next season. Assuming Miller plays in 2026, the Broncos icon will look to build on his career sack total of 138.5. Miller is 13th on the all-time list, but he is just three sacks away from tying Michael Strahan for 10th.
Doesn’t he beat women?