Broncos Journal: Von Miller arrived in Denver day of Demaryius Thomas’ “incredible” ROF honor, but he tries not to think of his own legacy just yet

Von Miller always gets a bit nostalgic when he comes back to Colorado.This time, perhaps particularly so.Miller made one of his regular treks back to the Front Range on Tuesday night to be on hand for a Wednesday Vons Vision event.This time, he doesnt yet know where hes going to be playing the 2025 season though hes sure hell be playing so he had actual, fond thoughts about the idea of being at OTAs and summer training sessions.This time, he returned to Broncos Country on the same day an old friend was honored.Miller got to Denver just a few hours after the team announced that Demaryius Thomas had been elected into the Broncos Ring of Fame in his first year of eligibility.Seeing D.T.

go in the Ring (of Fame) was incredible.

That was my guy, Miller said Wednesday.

We all knew that was coming.

We all knew he was going in the Ring (of Fame).

Its fitting for him he had an incredible career here as a Bronco.I know hes smiling down, big smile.The two are, of course, closely linked.Thomas was one of two Broncos first-round draft picks in 2010 he went No.

22 and then Tim Tebow three picks later and then Denver picked Miller No.

2 overall the next season.They made the Pro Bowl together four times, starred together on some of the franchises best teams and eventually won Super Bowl 50 together.

Miller was the MVP of that win against Carolina after sacking Cam Newton 2.5 times.

Thomas had just one catch for eight yards but finished his fourth straight season with 1,300-plus receiving yards and a ring.Miller said thats the day he thinks of still when Thomas comes to his mind.Of course, we expected to win that game every game you go into, you expect to win but actually doing it and the confetti dropping and seeing D.T.

smiling with his mom and his dad.

You see him with Peyton Manning and DeMarcus Ware.

He had a really special relationship with DeMarcus, too.

Those are some of the memories that, when I think of D.T.

going in the Ring of Fame, I think of him after the Super Bowl, Miller said.Everybody was happy.

That feeling lasted all summer the summer of 2016 was incredible and seeing D.T.

happy and smiling is the picture that Ill have forever.Miller is hoping not to be at the Super Bowl 50 reunion the weekend of Oct.

19 unless Im playing for the Giants or the Broncos, he said Wednesday.

Thats when Thomas family will be in town to honor his entry into the Ring of Fame.Its an honor that will come for Miller in the future, too.In fact, he might just be the next player to make the Ring of Fame on his first year of eligibility, as Thomas did.There are other deserving candidates.

Aquib Talibs got an interesting case after spending just four years with the club and several long-standing options like Ed McCaffrey and Al Wilson are also out there.

But perhaps the only other first-ballot option in the coming years would be cornerback Chris Harris Jr.

in 2028.Otherwise, the number of elections in the next half-decade or more is likely to be small and the number of first-year entrants even smaller.That will be another honor Thomas and Miller are likely to share, though it will be a while.

If 2025 is Millers final year playing, hed be eligible for the Ring of Fame in 2031.

Tack on a year on the back end for each subsequent year he plays.Related ArticlesGrading The Week: Want to win Nikola Jokics heart, David Adelman? Bring Monte Morris back to NuggetsInside Bo Nixs preparation for Year 2 with the Broncos: I got a lot to proveRenck: In Talanoa Hufanga, Steve Atwater sees Broncos latest big hitterBroncos OTA observations: Sean Payton sees Bo Nix starting Year 2 in full control.

Its entirely differentJohn Franklin-Myers not present for Broncos OTAs, but agent says no contract issuesAt 36, Miller doesnt sound like he wants to be done playing.

Hes got two Super Bowls and a rock-solid Pro Football Hall of Fame case already, but hes within shouting distance of some incredible heights on the all-time sack list.From his current 129.5, he needs 3.5 to hit the top 20 in NFL history.

He needs 9.5 to surpass Ware.

Just beyond that, 12.5 would get him to 142, a half-sack past Michael Strahan and tied with Lawrence Taylor inside the top 10 of all time.Thats one part of his legacy.Vons Vision and the off-field work is another.All of it is still very much in progress for Miller, who cant help but sometimes think back when hes around here but still very much has his eyes forward.I do think about (legacy) but then I dont because Im trying to do more and more, he said.

I dont have a lot of time to look up.

When I do look up and I see Broncos Country, this was an incredible period in my life.Were still working.

When I look up, I do look at my legacy and all the things were doing, but at the same time, were still trying to build.Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis..

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