Red Miller
Personal information | |
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Born: | Macomb, Illinois | October 31, 1927
Died: | September 27, 2017 Denver, Colorado | (aged 89)
Career history | |
As coach: | |
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Robert "Red" Miller (October 31, 1927 – September 27, 2017) was a professional football coach with the Denver Broncos. On May 4, 2017, it was announced that Miller would be inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame. He would be the only member of the 2017 class.
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Early life and career
Miller was born and raised in Macomb, Illinois and attended Macomb Public Schools and Western Illinois University, where he was later a star player and coach for the Leathernecks football team. He began his coaching career at high schools in Astoria and Canton, Illinois, and at Carthage College.
Miller was an assistant coach with Lou Saban at Western Illinois in the late 1950s before joining Saban with the AFL's Boston Patriots in 1960. He also was an assistant with Buffalo (1962), Denver (1963–65), St. Louis (1966–70), Baltimore (1971–72) and New England (1973–76) before rejoining the Broncos as head coach.
Head coach of Denver Broncos
Miller was named head coach of the Denver Broncos on January 31, 1977, replacing John Ralston.[1] Miller took a team led by linebackers Randy Gradishar, Bob Swenson, and Tom Jackson, cornerbacks Louis Wright and Bernard Jackson, safety Billy Thompson, and defensive end Lyle Alzado— mainstays of the Orange Crush Defense— and veteran quarterback Craig Morton (acquired via trade with the New York Giants) to a 12–2 regular season record and an AFC championship.[2] The Broncos then faced the Tom Landry-coached Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XII but lost, 27–10.
The Broncos also would lose in an NFL AFC Divisional Playoff match against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on December 30, 1978, 33–10. They would also lose the next season to the Houston Oilers 13–7 in a classic NFL Wild Card Playoff match played in the Astrodome on December 23, 1979.
After posting an 8–8 record in 1980, and failing to return to the AFC playoffs, Miller was fired[2] by new owner Edgar Kaiser in the spring of 1981 and replaced with then Dallas Cowboy assistant and former NFL running back Dan Reeves.
Denver Gold
In 1983 Miller became the first head coach of the Denver Gold of the United States Football League (USFL), but feuded bitterly with team owner Ron Blanding and was fired before the completion of the league's first season.
Death
Miller died on September 27, 2017, from complications due to a stroke.[3]
Head coaching record
Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | |||||||
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Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
Broncos | 1977 | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | 1st in AFC West | 2 | 1 | .667 | Lost to Cowboys in Super Bowl XII. |
Broncos | 1978 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 1st in AFC West | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Steelers in AFC Divisional Game. |
Broncos | 1979 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 2nd in AFC West | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Oilers in AFC Wild Card Game. |
Broncos | 1980 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4th in AFC West | – | – | – | – |
Broncos Total | 40 | 22 | 0 | .645 | 2 | 3 | .400 | |||
NFL Total | 40 | 22 | 0 | .645 | 2 | 3 | .400 |
References
- ^ Dick Kreck (January 13, 2008). "Broncos' magic season comes alive in memories of its magnetic players". The Denver Post. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
- ^ a b Tim Lynch (January 30, 2009). "MHR Bronco's History Lesson; Know Your Coaches". milehighreport.com. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
- ^ "Red Miller, who coached Denver Broncos to 1st SB, dies". Espn.com. September 27, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
Additional sources
- 1927 births
- 2017 deaths
- Boston Patriots (AFL) coaches
- Carthage Red Men football coaches
- Denver Broncos coaches
- Denver Broncos head coaches
- New England Patriots coaches
- Western Illinois Leathernecks football players
- Western Illinois Leathernecks football coaches
- United States Football League coaches
- High school football coaches in Illinois
- People from Macomb, Illinois
- Players of American football from Illinois
- Deaths from cerebrovascular disease