Von Miller pictured in middle with Zack Martin (left) and Gary Patterson (right)
Von Miller began 2026 by receiving one of the highest honors available to a Texas athlete. He could finish it playing NFL football less than 30 miles from the city where his career began.
The DeSoto High School graduate and Texas Sports Hall of Famer has agreed to terms with the Dallas Cowboys for the 2026 season, adding another chapter to a year already defined by recognition of his football legacy.
Dallas announced the agreement Sunday, Aug. 16. Miller is expected to formally sign the contract as the Cowboys continue preparations for the regular season.
The move comes four months after Miller was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame as a member of its Class of 2026.
Miller was formally inducted April 18 in Waco alongside a class that included former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Zack Martin, former TCU football coach Gary Patterson, U.S. soccer standout Clint Dempsey and other prominent figures in Texas sports history.
The Hall of Fame recognized Miller for a career that stretches from DeSoto High School to Texas A&M and the NFL.
For DeSoto, the two milestones place renewed attention on one of the city’s most accomplished athletes.
Miller graduated from DeSoto High School in 2007 before starring at Texas A&M.
He became a consensus All-American with the Aggies and won the Butkus Award in 2010 as the nation’s top linebacker.
The Denver Broncos selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft.
What followed was a career that ultimately earned Miller a place among Texas sports legends.
Miller became an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, helped Denver win Super Bowl 50 and was named the game’s MVP. He later won a second Super Bowl championship with the Los Angeles Rams.
By the time he entered the 2026 offseason, Miller had recorded 138.5 career sacks, making him the NFL’s active leader in the category.
He recorded nine sacks for the Washington Commanders during the 2025 season.
DeSoto ISD recognized Miller’s Hall of Fame induction in April, highlighting his path from DeSoto High School to the highest levels of professional football.
The district described the achievement as another source of pride for the DeSoto community.
Now the next stage of Miller’s career will bring him even closer to those roots.
The Cowboys are adding the 37-year-old to a pass-rush group that includes Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku and 2026 first-round selection Malachi Lawrence.
Dallas is expected to use Miller as part of its defensive rotation while also adding one of the NFL’s most experienced pass rushers to a relatively young position group.
Miller had also made his interest in playing for Dallas apparent during the offseason, including through social media posts depicting himself in a Cowboys uniform.
The possibility became reality when Dallas announced the agreement.
The move gives Miller an opportunity few professional athletes receive late in their careers: a chance to play near the community where their story started.
His career has taken him from DeSoto to College Station, Denver, Los Angeles, Buffalo and Washington.
In April, Texas permanently recognized that journey with a place in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
Four months later, Miller is preparing for another homecoming, this time wearing a Dallas Cowboys uniform.
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