The Denver Broncos selected Von Miller with the second overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft from Texas A&M. Miller's arrival in Denver marked the signature draft choice of John Elway's executive tenure. Elway famously described Miller as a "once-in-a-decade" talent, a statement that Miller promptly confirmed. Over nine and a half seasons with the Broncos, he revitalized Mile High Stadium as a formidable defensive stronghold and emerged as the most formidable edge rusher in the franchise's history.

Miller boasted an iconic first-step explosion, remarkable ankle flexion ("bend"), and elite closing speed around the edge. In Wade Phillips' aggressive 3-4 scheme, he routinely beat offensive tackles off the snap before they could establish their pass sets. Beyond taking down quarterbacks, Miller excelled at active-hand strip-sacks, converting pass-rush wins into immediate turnovers.

What distinguished Miller from other edge rushers of his era was his exceptional "get-off" at the snap—a reaction time that was remarkably swift, often giving the appearance of him jumping the count. By combining this raw speed with extraordinary ankle flexibility, Miller was able to dip his shoulder and maneuver around offensive tackles at nearly impossible angles, successfully turning the corner while sustaining full momentum toward the pocket. Opposing tackles were compelled to overcommit to his outside rush, thus rendering them vulnerable to his effective spin move or a powerful bull-rush that forced them back into the quarterback's pocket.

Miller made a significant impact on the league in 2011, receiving the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award following his achievement of 11.5 sacks. He subsequently achieved an 18.5-sack season in 2012, culminating as the runner-up for the AP Defensive Player of the Year and securing his inaugural First-Team All-Pro recognition. Miller demonstrated remarkable consistency in disrupting opposing offenses, recording seven seasons with double-digit sacks while with Denver. This comprehensive skill set led to his unanimous selection for the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.

His peak years in Mile High were characterized by an exceptional ability to elevate his performance during the most critical moments. In the 2015 AFC Championship Game against New England, he achieved 2.5 sacks and an interception against Tom Brady, thereby setting the stage for his renowned performance in Super Bowl 50 two weeks later against the Carolina Panthers.

Miller recorded six tackles, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two quarterback hits in the big game. Both forced fumbles directly produced Denver touchdowns—including a late strip-sack that sealed the victory—earning him Super Bowl MVP honors and securing the franchise's third championship trophy. That postseason run (5.0 sacks in three games) remains one of the most dominant playoff stretches by a defensive player in NFL history.

Miller remained an elite defensive engine through the late 2010s, earning seven total Pro Bowl selections and seven All-Pro honors (3 First-Team, 4 Second-Team) in Denver. His time with the franchise came to an emotional end midway through the 2021 season when he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, where he helped secure his second Super Bowl ring before joining the Buffalo Bills.

Miller left Denver as the franchise's all-time official sack leader with 110.5 sacks, alongside 142 tackles for loss, 225 quarterback hits, and 25 forced fumbles across 135 regular-season games.