Super Bowl MVP Von Miller: "Two years ago I was in the dumps. . . Here I am now"

The Denver Broncos are Super Bowl Champions and linebacker Von Miller is the MVP of Super Bowl 50. Miller’s six tackles, two and a half sacks and two forced fumbles were the difference for the Broncos and their stout defense.

The Broncos first touchdown came off of a Miller’s strip-sack in the first quarter. That Cam Newton turnover was the Panthers first of four forced by the Broncos defense. Malik Jackson ended up with the football and took it into the end zone to give Denver a 10-0 lead. The soon-to-be Super Bowl MVP, Miller got to the regular-season MVP, Newton on a slick move to get past right tackle Mike Remmers.

Somebody block Von Miller…#SB50 #Broncos #CARvsDENhttps://t.co/mAHLbuJcRd

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 8, 2016

Then, it was Miller’s strip-sack of Newton in the final minutes that put the game on ice. With only four minutes remaining, Miller set up Denver’s only offensive touchdown. Once again, he got around Remmers, this time with another sweet move to the outside. Miller, once around the offensive lineman reached with his left hand to grab Newton’s throwing arm as the quarterback was about to throw.

VON MILLER CANNOT BE STOPPED

He strips Cam Newton again & gives #Broncos incredible field position! #Broncos #SB50 https://t.co/kq5LVFAGB6

— NFL (@NFL) February 8, 2016

The Broncos linebacker is the 10th defensive Super Bowl MVP and the second in three years, with Malcolm Smith winning the award for the Seattle Seahawks against Denver just two years ago. Miller is also only the fourth linebacker to be named Super Bowl MVP. The other three are Smith, Ray Lewis and Chuck Howley.

“That was hard, it was a tough time for me,” Miller said of Denver’s loss two years ago. “But not just for me, but for Chris Harris and Derek Wolfe and all those guys that didn’t play. And we were able to get another opportunity again, we wanted to take advantage of it. I just wanted to be the type of player to influence my guys to be to the best of their abilities, it wasn’t anything about me or me going out here and making these plays. I wanted to influence guys around me and get them playing at a level they wouldn’t normally play at. That’s where my mind was at today.”

Miller, a leader of the Denver defense, led by example on Super Bowl Sunday and has all throughout the playoffs.

“I got some wild dreams, I definitely visualized success for my team.” Miller explained. “I really didn’t individualize it for me doing this. I wanted to play at a level to influence everyone around me. It didn’t have anything to do with me wanted to get this sack or this or that, I just wanted to play at a high level and influence guys around me.”

Perhaps one of the most special things for this Broncos team, it seems as though everyone had someone to play for. In Miller’s case, that person was his idol, Demarcus Ware.

“I want to be great,” Miller described. “When you see greatness on an everyday basis, it keeps you grounded it keeps the goal on your mind. Seeing Ware come in every day consistently, it didn’t matter about injuries or this or that, he was the same Demarcus Ware. Him being my idol, I wanted to do this for him. That’s the last thing he needed on his checklist (a Super Bowl win) and it’s a true blessing to give it to him.”

The nine-time Pro Bowler 11-year veteran was proud of is pupil postgame.

“Sometimes on the sidelines, I tug his shoulders and tell him, ‘Let’s go Von. You have to get there,’ Ware said. “Or I say ‘It’s Miller Time.’ I tell him that all the time and when he’s feels that and I can see it in it his eyes, he turns on.”

“You just gotta keep grinding,” Miller told. “Two years ago I was in the dumps, God is good and here I am now.”

Here he is Denver, World Champion and Super Bowl MVP Von Miller.