The NFL announced Tuesday that Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller is one of 32 nominees for the 2022 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, an honor that recognizes players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field.
A panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community – Warrick Dunn, 2014 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award recipient Larry Fitzgerald, Pro Football Hall of Famer Curtis Martin and Leonard Wheeler will select eight finalists to be voted on by players in December.
Miller is in his first season with the Buffalo Bills and has been able to earn the respect of his teammates in the short amount of time he's been a Bill.
Sean McDermott has spoken highly of Miller throughout the season and what aspects of leadership he brings to the team.
"He's been a great addition to our team in a lot of ways and I think the biggest thing that is just really cool about Von is that he's such a team player. He does everything that's asked, he serves and in the way that he serves his teammates," McDermott said.
Miller, a 12-year NFL veteran, says that one of his favorite parts of game days is being able to connect with players on the opposing team, especially ones that he's gotten to know from his past stops at Denver and Los Angeles.
"It's funny, because whenever we have those breaks in between plays and you get a moment to talk to guys, it doesn't even feel like I'm in a football game. It just feels like I'm catching up with one of my buddies," Miller said after Week 8 against Green Bay. "That's what makes the league great when you have great relationships with great guys in this league."
The Sportsmanship Award was created in 2014 and honors the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney Sr.
The winner of the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award is determined by a vote of current NFL players and will be announced as part of NFL Honors. The winning player will receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice.
