Von Miller, coming off his most productive season since 2021, doesn't sound like a man ready to retire.
Joining The Rich Eisen Show on Tuesday, Miller said he's still got gas left in the tank for a 15th season.
"I'm definitely not at the beginning, but they're still falling for the same tricks," Miller said when asked if he was nearing the end. "I can't leave. They're still falling for this stuff. I gotta roll the dice again. I had nine sacks last year, and I only played 35, 37 percent, so they're still falling for it. They're still falling for the same tricks I've been doing my whole career. I'm going to keep rolling the dice until they figure it out."
Far from his perennial All-Pro days, the soon-to-be 37-year-old proved to be a valuable piece in Washington last season, leading the Commanders with nine sacks and earning 15 QB hits, 26 tackles and six tackles for loss in 17 games – his first time playing a full slate since 2018.
Last offseason, Miller chose the Commanders over the Seahawks, a decision he said he'd do "10 times out of 10." He noted that the presence of Jayden Daniels and Washington's previous run to the NFC Championship Game in 2024 was the reason he chose the Commanders over the eventual Super Bowl champs. It's hard to fault Miller for the choice at the time, but, in his mind, it underscores the need to make the right decision this time around.
"I'm a loyal guy. I would love to stay with the Washington Commanders," he said. "I fell in love with my teammates there. I love the way they run the organization. (General manager) Adam Peters is great. Coach (Dan) Quinn is great. I would love to be a Washington Commander.
"If something were to happen and I'm not a Washington Commander, then I would love to go to the Denver Broncos. I didn't get that chance -- I got traded whenever I was there -- I didn't get that chance to have closure. I didn't get to walk into the stadium and be like, 'OK, this is my last game' or 'I'm gonna do this with the fans.' I didn't get that closure. So, I would love to have closure with the Denver Broncos.
"And if, hey, the Commanders don't want me, the Broncos don't want me, there's a team out there that's gonna pick me up that would love to have my tricks on their roster. I just play it by ear. This is my second time doing it. I kind of know what to expect. Just got to make the best out of whatever decision I get."
The Broncos not offering Miller a contract last offseason likely reflects their standing. The AFC West champs boast Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper off the edge. They'd likely prefer to get youngsters Jonah Elliss and Que Robinson more run rather than add a long-in-the-tooth veteran. Of course, never say never in a league that is always in need of rotational pass rush help, but it's not a clear match.
The Commanders certainly need pass rush help with veterans Miller and Jake Martin, the club's leading sack artists, both heading to free agency. However, Washington desperately needs to get younger on defense.
Miller isn't likely to be among the first wave of free agency and could be a player who waits until after the draft to peg the best situation moving forward. No longer an every-down menace, the former Super Bowl MVP can still get after it in spurts and is a solid run defender off the edge. He'll be at his best if he lands with a team that needs 20-25 snaps a game from a rotational vet in 2026.
