‘Dream within a dream’ for pass rusher Von Miller to join his hometown Dallas Cowboys

OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — Von Miller is set to join his hometown Dallas Cowboys, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Growing up in the suburbs of Dallas, Miller's parents were a perfect embodiment of the "love 'em or hate ’em" reaction the Cowboys evoke in fans. Miller's mother, however, does not share his enthusiasm for the team. This year, Miller agreed to a one-year contract with the Cowboys that could be worth up to $7.5 million, allowing him to return the team to its Super Bowl-winning glory.

The decision came after Miller had previous talks about joining the Cowboys, including after winning his second Lombardi Trophy with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. Miller has ties to the new defensive coaching staff at the Cowboys, including pass rush consultant B.T. Jordan, who is his longtime trainer, and coordinator Christian Parker, with whom he worked in Denver.

Additionally, he has forged strong relationships with several Cowboys players, including Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku. Miller, the NFL's active sack leader, is coming off a strong season, having posted nine sacks with the Commanders. He remains confident he can match that level of play for the Cowboys, noting that he can still win a lot of reps, especially in crunch time.

The number on the back of his jersey remains undecided, but Miller is focused on winning games and playing in big moments, with the number being an afterthought.