Red Miller
Encyclopedia
Robert "Red" Miller is a former professional football coach
with the Denver Broncos
.
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.
of the Denver Broncos on January 31, 1977, replacing John Ralston. Miller took a team led by linebackers Randy Gradishar
, Bob Swenson, and Tom Jackson, cornerback Louis Wright, 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 West Division title.
The Broncos then faced the Tom Landry
-coached Dallas Cowboys
in Super Bowl XII
but lost, 27–10. Interest in that season and team have been revived by Terry Frei's popular 2008 book, '77: Denver, the Broncos and a Coming of Age.
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 by new owner Edgar Kaiser
in the spring of 1981 and replaced with then Dallas Cowboy
assistant and former NFL running back Dan Reeves
.
of the USFL
, but feuded bitterly with team owner Ron Blanding and was fired before the completion of the league's first season.
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
with the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early life and career
Miller was born and raised in Macomb, IllinoisMacomb, Illinois
Macomb is a city in and the county seat of McDonough County, Illinois, United States. It is situated in western Illinois southwest of Galesburg. The population was 18,588 at the 2000 census. Macomb is the home of Western Illinois University.- Geography :...
and attended Macomb Public Schools and Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University is a public university founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. Like many similar institutions of the time, Western Illinois State Normal School focused on teacher training for its relatively small body of students. As the normal school grew, it became...
, where he was later a star player and coach for the Leathernecks football team. He began his coaching career at high schools in Astoria
Astoria, Illinois
Astoria is an incorporated town in Fulton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,193 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Astoria is located at ....
and Canton, Illinois
Canton, Illinois
Canton is the largest city in Fulton County, Illinois in the United States. The population was 18,288 as of the 2000 Census. The Canton Micropolitan Statistical Area covers all of Fulton County; it is in turn part of the wider Peoria-Canton, IL Combined Statistical Area .-Geography:Canton is...
, and at Carthage College
Carthage College
Carthage College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin midway between Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the campus is on the shore of Lake Michigan and is home to 2,500 full-time and 900 part-time...
.
Miller was an assistant coach with Lou Saban
Lou Saban
Louis Henry Saban was an American football player and coach. Saban played for Indiana University in college and as a pro for the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference...
at Western Illinois in the late 1950s before joining Saban with the AFL
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
'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.
Orange Crush coaching years (1977–1980)
Miller was named head coachHead coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Denver Broncos on January 31, 1977, replacing John Ralston. Miller took a team led by linebackers Randy Gradishar
Randy Gradishar
Randy Charles Gradishar is a former college and professional American football linebacker who played in the 1970s and 1980s. Randy Gradishar is currently the Director of Corporate Communications for the Phil Long Dealerships in Colorado...
, Bob Swenson, and Tom Jackson, cornerback Louis Wright, safety Billy Thompson and defensive end Lyle Alzado
Lyle Alzado
Lyle Martin Alzado was a professional American football defensive lineman of the National Football League famous for his intense and intimidating style of play....
— mainstays of the Orange Crush Defense
Orange Crush Defense
Orange Crush Defense was the 3-4 defense of the Denver Broncos during the 1970s.It was one of the top defenses of its time with linebackers Randy Gradishar and Tom Jackson, with Gradishar as a potential Hall of Famer...
— and veteran quarterback Craig Morton
Craig Morton
Larry Craig Morton is a former professional football player. He played quarterback in the National Football League for 18 seasons, 1965-82...
(acquired via trade with the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
) to a 12–2 regular season record and an AFC West Division title.
The Broncos then faced the Tom Landry
Tom Landry
Thomas Wade "Tom" Landry was an American football player and coach. He is ranked as one of the greatest and most innovative coaches in National Football League history, creating many new formations and methods...
-coached Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII was an American football game played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1977 regular season...
but lost, 27–10. Interest in that season and team have been revived by Terry Frei's popular 2008 book, '77: Denver, the Broncos and a Coming of Age.
The Broncos also would lose in an NFL AFC Divisional Playoff match against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
at Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to...
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 by new owner Edgar Kaiser
Edgar Kaiser
Edgar Fosburgh Kaiser, Jr is a Canadian financier and a former owner of the Denver Broncos American football team. He was born in Portland, Oregon on 5 July 1942 and is the grandson of shipbuilding industrialist Henry J. Kaiser. He earned a BA degree from Stanford University and an MBA degree...
in the spring of 1981 and replaced with then Dallas Cowboy
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
assistant and former NFL running back Dan Reeves
Dan Reeves
Daniel Edward Reeves is a former American football player and head coach. He has participated in more Super Bowls as player/assistant coach/Head Coach than anyone else...
.
Denver Gold (USFL)
In 1983 Miller became the first head coach of the Denver GoldDenver Gold
The Denver Gold was a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second major professional football league in the United States, playing a springtime season, from 1983 to 1985...
of the USFL
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
, but feuded bitterly with team owner Ron Blanding and was fired before the completion of the league's first season.
See also
Additional sources
- '59 Football Team Coaches Named Grand Marshals of WIU Homecoming Parade Red Miller
- '77: Denver, the Broncos, and a Coming of Age Journalist Terry Frei article about the '77 Denver Broncos and Head Coach Red Miller