OXNARD, Calif. — The Dallas Cowboys are bringing one of North Texas’ most accomplished football players home.
The Cowboys agreed to terms with veteran outside linebacker Von Miller on a one-year contract Sunday, adding an eight-time Pro Bowl pass rusher to a defense looking for more production and experience up front.
For Miller, the move represents a return to familiar territory.
The 37-year-old DeSoto native starred at DeSoto High School before becoming an All-American at Texas A&M and eventually the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Fifteen seasons later, he is headed back to the Dallas area to continue his career with the Cowboys.
Miller enters Dallas with 138.5 career sacks, the most among active NFL players. He has played for the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders during a career that includes two Super Bowl championships and a Super Bowl MVP award.
The veteran pass rusher showed he still had something left last season in Washington, recording nine sacks in 17 games. That production gives Dallas another experienced option for its defensive front as the Cowboys prepare for the 2026 season.
Miller’s arrival also adds another veteran voice to a defense undergoing significant change. Dallas has invested heavily in improving its front, including the addition of pass rusher Rashan Gary and other young defensive talent.
The Cowboys finished tied for 22nd in the NFL in sacks last season, making pressure on opposing quarterbacks an obvious area of emphasis entering 2026.
Miller is no longer the dominant young edge rusher who terrorized quarterbacks early in his career. He also has not made a Pro Bowl since 2019. But Dallas isn’t necessarily asking him to carry the pass rush.
Instead, the Cowboys can use Miller’s experience, veteran savvy and ability to create pressure in specific situations while allowing younger players to handle larger workloads.
And for a player who grew up in the Dallas area watching the Cowboys, the opportunity carries significance beyond football.
Now, after years of playing elsewhere, Miller gets the chance to finish another chapter of his NFL career in his hometown.
For the Cowboys, the hope is simple: a veteran with a championship résumé can still make a difference when the games matter most.
