The Dallas Cowboys have added a familiar Texas name to their defense, giving their pass rush another veteran presence for the 2026 season. For Von Miller, though, this move means much more than simply joining another NFL roster.
The Cowboys had been on his radar for months, but their first direct contact came much closer to training camp than many would expect.
Von Miller Reveals How Cowboys’ Interest Became a Reality
Miller revealed that Dallas was the first team to contact him about a deal roughly a week before training camp, although the two sides had discussed the possibility earlier in the year.
“They’re the first team to contact me like a week before training camp,” Miller said on the Nightcap podcast. “There had been some talks about the Cowboys throughout the whole offseason. And it just seemed right for me.”
The timing gave the move an unexpected twist, especially considering the Cowboys ranked at the bottom of PFN NFL Defense Impact%20assigns,red%20zone%20and%20third%20downs.) last season.
Miller spent the 2025 season with the Washington Commanders, where he recorded nine sacks in 17 games despite the team winning only five games. For comparison, the Cowboys’ leader in that category, Jadeveon Clowney, racked up 8.5.
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Now Miller returns to his home state on a one-year contract and is expected to provide Dallas with a rotational piece in their push for Super Bowl glory.
For Miller, the appeal was about much more than his next NFL stop. He lives in Texas during the offseason, while his parents and children are also based in Texas. His connection to the Cowboys also stretches back to childhood.
“I always had a little blue on my heart since I was a little boy, and always paid attention to the Dallas Cowboys,” Miller said.
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He then recalled his earliest football memory, which involved hearing his father celebrating a Cowboys touchdown.
“My earliest memory of playing football included the Dallas Cowboys,” Miller said. “I heard my daddy screaming in the back, and I ran back there to see what was going on. And he was screaming because the Dallas Cowboys had scored a touchdown.”
This history helps explain why Miller views this opportunity differently from a typical late-career free-agent move. He compared it to the ‘Inception’ movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio, saying, “To be back here, to be back home, it’s a dream within a dream.”
Miller also believes he can contribute beyond his snap count. He enters Dallas tied with former Cowboys great DeMarcus Ware at 138.5 career sacks, while his experience gives him another role around a younger defensive group.
“I am the best teammate in the history of the National Football League,” Miller said. “When it comes to being a great teammate, I just know how to do it.”
He remains confident that he can still produce as a pass rusher, too.
“I can still walk in the 8 to 10 sacks now,” Miller said. “That’s just walking in.”
The Cowboys’ first contact may have come only a week before training camp, but Miller’s connection to Dallas had been developing for much longer. Now, the Texas native finally gets to wear the star he grew up watching.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.