After a relatively quiet 2019 season, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller is poised to have a bounce-back year in 2020.
“He’s going to have a monster year,” Broncos edge defender Bradley Chubb said on July 31. “He’s been the most motivated I’ve seen, and he’s sending me videos — motivational videos — and sending me pictures of him working out and doing all types of stuff. I’m excited to see him come back into the building and see what we do this year.”
Miller said Tuesday that the COVID-19 pandemic, Kobe Bryant’s death and Michael Jordan’s documentary shaped his offseason. Events that Miller would usually attend during the offseason — the Kentucky Derby, Coachella and Rolling Loud — were canceled, giving Miller more free time.
“I thought about what I could do over this time, and I said, ‘Man, I’m going to train,'” Miller recalled. “‘I’m going to train every day, and I’m going to train as much as I possibly can.’ That’s what I did. I got lost in that.”
Miller said the mentalities of Bryant and Jordan inspired him to change his leadership style.
“Was I demanding more out of my teammates?” Miller said. “Was I demanding more out of myself? I looked in the mirror and I said I wasn’t. I just tried to change that and I tried to work as hard as I possibly could.
“I didn’t take any days off, I didn’t go on any vacations and I didn’t do anything but work out, grind and reinvest all the time that I would usually spend on endorsements. I just reinvested that time back into myself.”
Miller changed his training routine and his mentality and his coaches and teammates have noticed.
“He has sent me some videos and pictures,” coach Vic Fangio said on July 28. “I do think . . . from everything I hear and know, I do think he’s had a hell of an offseason. We all know he had COVID there for a little bit. I don’t think he was affected much by it. It really didn’t slow him down much.
“I’m anxious to see him. He’s put on some weight. I know he’s worked extremely hard. I do sense that he’s got a hunger to his game and to his attitude that I don’t think he’s had the last few years in the league.”
With a reinvigorated drive, Miller will look to dominate this season.
“I feel like I can give more and I can be more,” Miller said. “I don’t feel like I’m finished yet.”
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