Willie Miller (American football) facts for kids
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | April 26, 1947 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 172 lb (78 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| College: | Colorado St. | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1975 / Round: 12 / Pick: 302 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Willie T. Miller, born on April 26, 1947, is a former American football player. He was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Miller played for seven seasons with two teams: the Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Rams.
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Willie Miller's Early Life and Military Service
After finishing high school in Birmingham, Alabama, Willie Miller joined the U.S. Army. He trained with the Special Forces, which are highly skilled soldiers.
During the Vietnam War, Miller became a staff sergeant. He showed great bravery and earned several important awards. He received a Silver Star for rescuing his injured sergeant during a battle. He also got a Soldier's Medal for trying to save another soldier from a dangerous flash flood. Miller was wounded in his leg and received a Purple Heart for his injury.
College Football Career
While still in the army, Willie Miller met football coaches from Colorado State University. They offered him a scholarship to play football. After serving five and a half years, Miller left the army and started college in 1971.
During his three years playing for Colorado State, Miller became a star. He broke all the school's records for receiving yards and touchdowns. In 1974, he was named the Athlete of the Year by the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.
Playing in the NFL
In 1975, the Houston Oilers picked Willie Miller in the NFL Draft. He later joined the Cleveland Browns. After missing the 1977 season due to an injury, he moved to the Los Angeles Rams.
In 1978, Miller became a starting player for the Rams. He led his team with 50 catches for 760 yards and four touchdowns. He was part of the Rams team that went to the Super Bowl in 1979, though he couldn't play due to an injury. Miller played three more seasons with the Rams before retiring in 1983.
Coaching High School Football
After his NFL career, Willie Miller became a high school football coach. In 1984, he started coaching at Hayes High School in Birmingham.
Later, he was the head coach at G.W. Carver in 2002 and 2003. From 2005 until he retired in 2013, Miller was the head coach at E.B. Erwin High School.
