DENVER BRONCOS LB VON MILLER
Super Bowl 50 MVP News Conference
San Francisco Bay Area l February 8, 2016
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Opening Statement
"Good morning. We are obviously very pleased. We had a wonderful week in the Bay Area. Everybody in the Bay
Area did a terrific job. It was a perfect celebration for Super Bowl 50. The partnership was really quite extraordinary.
The Broncos and the Panthers did their part and had a memorable, exciting, tough, defensive battle. I think we'll all
remember the game for quite a while. Great performances both individually and by the Broncos. The good news is
the fans seemed to agree. We've had initial reactions on the ratings, and they are competitive, at least, if not the
most-watched television show in history. It will be very close. When we add in the digital platforms that we are now
working so closely with, I clearly believe this will be the most-watched Super Bowl in history. The world had an
opportunity to see it. It was a great event all around, and we're very pleased. Of course, we want to thank and
congratulate the Broncos. Their third Super Bowl (victory) and eight appearances, which is tied for the most
appearances in a Super Bowl. The kind of organization the Broncos have speaks volumes about their success and
what they mean to the Denver community and a national basis.
"I don't know if John is here this morning, but to John Elway, congratulations. To be the quarterback of the first two
Super Bowl victories and then be the architect of the third, as general manager, speaks volumes about John Elway
and his abilities to contribute on so many different levels to an organization and to the game of football. To John,
congratulations. To Coach Kubiak, who I know is here because I got a few minutes to spend with him this morning,
someone that has contributed both on the player side and now the coaching side. For Coach Kubiak to be the first
individual as a player and a coach to reach the Super Bowl (with the same organization), that's just an extraordinary
accomplishment. Congratulations to you and your leadership of the Broncos.
"Of course, we saw an amazing performance by Von Miller yesterday. What an extraordinary young man. What an
extraordinary player. He played his lights out and led his team to, what many would say, is one of the best defensive
performances in the history of the game. It was that kind of a game. Von is the, I believe, 10th MVP to come from the
defensive side of the ball - the kind of individual performance that will be remembered by all. I remember meeting Von
for the first time when he came into the draft almost five years ago from Texas A&M. When we met Von, you know he
has a sense of purpose. He was a young man that understood what he wanted to accomplish both off the field and on
the field. He continues to do that, and he continues to impress us. He's the kind of young man that plays this game at
the highest level and does it off the field also. Von, we're proud of you. You did a terrific job yesterday. We're glad to
give you the MVP trophy, so come on up."
Von Miller Opening Statement
"Howdy. First and foremost, I want to thank God for allowing me to be in this moment. I want to thank my teammates.
If it weren't for those guys – those guys get me through the toughest of days. Aqib (Talib), T.J. (Ward), Kayvon
(Webster), Malik (Jackson), (Derek) Wolfe, DT (Demaryius Thomas), I could name the whole 53-man roster. It's those
guys that grew me up on those Thursdays and those Wednesdays when it's rough. They get me through those days.
The personality in the locker room, it really inspires not only me, but everyone in the locker room, to be better. I want
to thank my mom and my dad and my little brother. Everything that they've done for me. My mom is my biggest fan.
She's never missed a game – little league football, flag football, all the way up to where I am now. Truly a blessing to
be here. I was just telling Commissioner Goodell who would have ever thought? Truly a blessing. Like what Coach
Kubiak always says, life is 90 percent fair. The ten percent, you just have to roll with it. I'm going to roll with the 10
percent, stay consistent and here we are today."
(on the chip on his shoulder considering the hype surrounding Panthers QB Cam Newton)
"The media, today, is a great thing. They do an incredible job of promoting the Super Bowl. Not only the Super Bowl,
but the games and the weeks leading up to the games. Hats off to the media for a well-played campaign for the
Super Bowl. We knew what type of team we were playing, very, very talented team from wide receivers to the
offensive guards, center and defensive tackle. We knew what type of game we had to play. It's a true blessing to
have a goal and go out and achieve it."
(on the defense helping QB Peyton Manning)
"We carry each other. That's another well-played campaign by the media again to separate the team. It was truly a
team effort. If it wasn't for Peyton making decisions that he made to throw the ball short so we could punt the ball, get
the ball back. It was truly a team effort. Everybody is used to seeing Peyton go out there and throw 45 points a game.
This year, it was truly a team effort. We all had a percentage in this Super Bowl win."
(on ranking the Broncos defense in history)
"I'm uncomfortable with comparisons. The game is the way it is because of the players that have come before us. All
these great defenses, they really put their necks on the line for the game. I'm uncomfortable with comparisons, but
the type of defense that we played this year was special. We spent a lot of time with each other. It's not really a 7-5
type of thing. I have teammates that spend a couple of weeks at my house. It's truly a family environment. I think
that's where our success came from."
(on what Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips has meant to Denver's defense)
"We have a lot of great coaches that have coached (us). I can remember the first coaches that believed in me; Coach
(John) Fox and Coach (Richard) Smith. If it wasn't for Coach Smith and Coach Fox – those guys are no longer with
us – but if it wasn't for those guys instilling what it means to play in the National Football League, I probably wouldn't
be here today. For Coach Phillips, we already had a talented team. It really wasn't a magical call that Coach Phillips
could have called or a magical scheme. He just came in. He had a magical personality. You have a 68-year-old guy
who is hip to everyday events and everyday dances and all that stuff. It's truly an energy boost. We have guys, not
only him, but you have Coach (Fred) Pagac and all these guys who are just so in love with coaching. That definitely
brings up the atmosphere in Dove Valley."
(on where winning the Super Bowl MVP ranks amongst his accolades, and how quickly he starts to think
about his future as a free agent)
"The Super Bowl MVP is special, but the Super Bowl ring is something that I will keep with me for the rest of my life.
I'll be able to be with my brothers for eternity. I'll be able to be with those guys for 100 years from now and that's truly
beautiful. As far as my situation coming up, we have (Executive Vice President of Football Operations/General
Manager) Mr. (John) Elway, he has played in the National Football League. He is one of the best (general managers)
that there is. We're here today because of him. I have people representing my situation as well and it's going to be a
peaceful thing. I am not really worried about it. It's another thing that the media tries to play up. As for me, I am just
enjoying being with my teammates, celebrating with those guys. That's where I want to be at right now."
(on what the celebration was like last night)
"It was a crazy night. I spent a lot of my time with Jeff Heuerman, one of our Ohio State rookies. I brought him along
with us. I spent a lot of time with my teammates just celebrating, laughing. We went all the way back to last year
when we first got there and we were all gelling and stuff. That's where the celebration is and it really hasn't stopped. I
was just talking to Coach Kubiak, I was asking if you could make the plane do backflips on the way home. It's
definitely going to be a magical week for us. I am looking forward to spending time with my teammates going on tour."
(on how nice it was to help OLB DeMarcus Ware win a Super Bowl)
"It's beautiful. DeMarcus is everything that … I really can't even put it into words. He's an All-American person. He's
an All-Pro player. He's a leader. He's a big brother to me. He is a coach, mentor. He has a lot of names for me. It's
something that I hold very, very close to my heart. I remember when I first got into the game and watching DeMarcus
and watching the passion that he played with. I wanted to mimic that in my game and my high school and my junior
high school days. To have a percentage in helping him achieve greatness is something that I will remember for the
rest of my life."