Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller is a study in contrasts. The bruising football star is surprisingly light on his feet.
And while he flourishes in a profession predicated on dispensing pain, he willingly shows his softer side.
"This is something that I've always wanted to do," Miller said about his appearance on Season 22 of "Dancing with the Stars. "When I signed up for it, I was all in for whatever it had to offer."
The DeSoto native burst onto the national stage in Super Bowl 50, leading a dominant Denver defense, earning Super Bowl MVP honors en route to the title.
"I'm happy for Bronco nation," he said after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. "We're going to celebrate this all summer!"
He certainly seems intent on living up to that vow, because since February 7 he's seemingly been everywhere, making the rounds on the talk show circuit and even appearing on "Saturday Night Live."
He's also introduced himself to an entirely new audience using those fleet feet of his in a much different way -- on the ballroom floor.
Miller said he's having too much fun to call it "hard," but adds this:
"It's definitely challenging, because I'm not a pro at dancing," he said. "All the dancing background that I have is in the locker room... on the football field with my buddies."
This self-admitted nerd is embracing the spotlight, even it means taking some heat for going shirtless in his Week 3 performance on "Dancing with the Stars."
"You know, I tried to fight [his professional partner] Whitney [Carson] on that, the whole time," Miller said, "but it got me a 20 and it helped with the performance. It did the trick."
Miller said pro athletes have done well on the hit ABC program because of their ability to understand good coaching... but there's more to it than that.
"I think the work ethic that you have as a football player, what makes you a pro, would make you a great dancer," he said.
So, Miller is up most days at 7:30, working on his moves, looking to join another Dallas great, Emmitt Smith, to become the fourth NFL player to win that coveted mirror ball trophy.
And when asked what he'd like to show fans of the dancing show who might not follow the NFL, Miller offers another contrast.
"I'm just a normal guy that was presented with an opportunity to take it to the next level," he said. "I'm just a regular kid from DeSoto, Texas."
In reality, he's anything but. And now millions around the country know it to be true.
