Red Miller

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Robert "Red" Miller (born 1927) was a professional football coach with the Denver Broncos.

Contents 1 Early Coaching Career 2 Orange Crush Coaching Years (1977-1980) 3 Denver Gold (USFL) 4 References

[edit] Early Coaching 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.

Miller was an assistant coach with Lou Saban at Western Illinois University in the late 1950s, joining Saban with the AFL's Boston Patriots in 1960, and then again in 1968, serving as a player scout, then an assistant coach for the Broncos under Lou Saban, and then also as an defensive assistant coach under John Ralston from 1972 to 1976.

Miller actually worked as the offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots in 1976.

[edit] Orange Crush Coaching Years (1977-1980)

Miller was named head coach of the Denver Broncos on February 1, 1977, replacing Ralston. Miller took a team lead by veteran All-NFL defensive end Lyle Alzado (head of the fabled "Orange Crush Defense"), and veteran free-agent QB signee Craig Morton (a former Dallas Cowboy and NY Giant castoff) 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.

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 all-pro running back Dan Reeves.

[edit] Denver Gold (USFL)

In 1983 Miller became the first head coach of the Denver Gold of the USFL. After posting a losing 4-7 record, Miller again was fired.

Miller's final record with the Broncos was 44-23-1. His record with the Gold was 4-7.

Miller, now semi-retired, now co-runs a brokerage business with his wife and his two adult children in Denver.

[edit] References

• [1] Red Miller

Biographical Sketch for benefit gala article

• [2] Journalist Terry Frei article about the '77 Denver Broncos and Head Coach Red Miller

v • d • e Denver Broncos Head Coaches
Filchock • Faulkner • Speedie • Malavasi • Saban • Smith • Ralston • Miller • Reeves • W. Phillips • Shanahan