Von Miller hid his youth football career from his father

Von Miller looks like the kind of athlete who was born to play football, which is why it’s so surprising to hear his dad wouldn’t let him play youth football, leading the Denver Broncos star to hide his peewee career from his father.

Miller shared a little about himself and his experience growing up in a story on The Players’ Tribune. Miller, a self-professed nerd, says he was really skinny growing up. He says he was so skinny that his dad wouldn’t let him play peewee football when he begged to in fifth grade.

After being shut down by his dad, Miller turned his attention to his mom and “started wearing her down” in his words. He says he begged her to play and tried convincing her by saying he would make his bed and do all his chores if she let him play. She finally gave in, but she kept it a secret from her husband. That’s where things got fun.

Miller explains the lengths he went to make sure his playing career went undetected.

“So this had to be a CIA operation. I couldn’t even have my pads in the house. I’d get undressed in the back of her Suburban after practice and then we’d leave the pads in the back seat with a blanket over them,” Miller said.

When Miller kept getting scratches and other injuries from playing ball, he had to figure out ways to hide it from his dad and excuses to make. He says his dad was very suspicious of the claims and explanations.

Obviously you have to be wondering when and if Von finally told his dad about playing peewee football. The linebacker says he finally broken down when his team of 11 players reached the championship game. He told his dad then that he was playing, and his team took home the championship.

Even though Miller was a skinny nerd back then, things have really paid off as he’s now one of the best players in the NFL. And it sounds like he is still close to his parents; they moved in with him a few years ago.