Von Miller Expected to Join Cowboys; Active Sack Leader Returns to Texas

Active NFL sack leader Von Miller, who recorded nine sacks for Washington last season, is expected to sign with the Dallas Cowboys.

Eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker Von Miller is expected to sign with the Dallas Cowboys, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on August 16, 2026. The 37-year-old pass rusher enters his 15th NFL season as the league’s active leader in sacks with 138.5 career takedowns. A native of DeSoto, Texas, who played at Texas A&M, Miller returns to his home state following a nine-sack campaign with the Washington Commanders last year. That production marked his highest single-season total since 2021, when he recorded 9.5 sacks while splitting time between the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Rams.

Miller was the second overall pick by Denver in the 2011 NFL Draft and earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors that same season. His career accolades include seven All-Pro selections (first or second team) and two runner-up finishes for Defensive Player of the Year in 2012 and 2016. The veteran defender previously won Super Bowl 50 MVP honors with the Broncos and earned a second championship ring during his tenure in Los Angeles.

Defensive Rotation and Coaching Connections

New Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who worked with Miller in Denver for parts of one season, will integrate the veteran into a pass-rush rotation. This unit currently features Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, and first-round selection Malachi Lawrence. The depth chart also includes Sam Williams, James Houston, and Marist Liufau. The Cowboys view Miller as a situational difference-maker rather than the every-down player he was during his decade-long stint in Denver.

Miller’s arrival follows a significant financial move by Dallas general manager Jerry Jones. Last week, the franchise signed defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to a three-year extension worth $105.9 million. Jones had hinted at the start of training camp in Oxnard, California, that the team was looking to add a significant defensive piece. Miller had teased the move throughout the offseason on social media, including sharing an image of himself wearing a Cowboys uniform.

Career Longevity and Injury History

Before his stint in Washington, Miller spent three seasons with the Buffalo Bills. His time in Buffalo was hampered by a torn ACL sustained in 2022, which forced him to miss the final five games of that year and the first four contests of the 2023 season. Despite these injuries, he has maintained his status as a premier pass rusher, having played for the Broncos, Rams, Bills, and Commanders before this expected move to Dallas.

Miller’s role in the locker room may mirror the mentorship he received from Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware in Denver. The Cowboys hope the veteran can provide similar guidance to their young defensive front. This signing marks a homecoming for the DeSoto High School alumnus, who spent the first ten years of his career in Denver before being traded to the Rams mid-season in 2021.