Denver Broncos legend Von Miller is revisiting the storyline that followed him for years in Denver, and he says it started with “Denver media” pushing trade chatter long before the team actually moved him.
On episode 9 of “Free Range with Von Miller,” Miller said the “Denver media” began talking about trading him “out of nowhere,” even though he’d signed a major deal and believed he was staying put. Miller then connected that experience to the John Harbaugh noise that had been building around the Baltimore Ravens, framing it as the same kind of media-driven cycle that can snowball into something bigger.
Miller’s comments land at a time when Harbaugh’s situation is no longer theoretical: the Ravens officially parted ways with Harbaugh on January 6, 2026, ending an 18-year run in Baltimore. It also comes at a time
Miller is playing late in his career on an incentive-heavy setup. He hit $1 million in sack bonuses this season (at seven and nine sacks) and expects to be a free agent again while looking for his next team.
Von Miller Says Trade Talk in Denver Started “Out of Nowhere”
Miller’s point wasn’t that he didn’t understand how the NFL works. It was that he felt the trade storyline became a yearly drumbeat in Denver, whether it matched reality or not.
He described it as something that lingered for “five, six years” and, in his view, created unnecessary noise around his standing with the Broncos. Then, eventually, he says the thing everyone kept talking about finally happened.
That “speak it into existence” dynamic is the heart of the story, and it’s why Broncos fans are going to lock onto this clip.
Key details Broncos fans will remember:
- Miller signed a six-year, $114.5 million extension with Denver in July 2016.
- The Broncos eventually traded Miller to the Los Angeles Rams on November 1, 2021, at the deadline.
- Miller says the trade talk started long before the deal, and he links that same media-cycle feeling to the Harbaugh situation.
Why Von Pulled John Harbaugh Into It
Miller brought up Harbaugh while discussing how he views media narratives around coaches and players, the “is something going on in there?” type of storyline that takes off even when there isn’t a clear public fracture.
He acknowledged the idea that sometimes stories “come from somewhere,” but he clearly pushed back on the idea that nonstop buzz equals truth, and pointed to Denver as his personal example.
That comparison is especially attention-grabbing now because Harbaugh is officially out in Baltimore, turning a “hot seat” conversation into a real NFL headline.
What This Means for How Broncos Fans View Miller’s Exit
Miller’s trade to the Rams was still jarring for a lot of Broncos fans because of what he represented: a cornerstone star, a Super Bowl 50 face of the franchise, and a rare defender who felt like a “career Bronco.”
His podcast comments don’t rewrite the front-office logic of the 2021 deadline move, but they do give fans something else to chew on: Miller suggesting the narrative machine was running for years, and, in his eyes, helped shape how the situation was viewed publicly.
It’s also a reminder of something Broncos fans see every year: once a storyline becomes loud enough, it can change how every press conference answer is interpreted.
What Happens Next
The Harbaugh angle gives this story legs beyond one clip, because it’s now tied to real league movement, and because Broncos fans know how quickly “buzz” can become an actual decision.
Von Miller Blames ‘Denver Media’ for Broncos Exit, Compares It to John Harbaugh News