Reporting from SANTA CLARA — Von Miller was the second pick in the 2011 NFL draft.
Cam Newton was the first.
Miller came out on top Sunday and was selected most valuable player of Super Bowl 50 after sacking Newton 21/2 times and forcing two fumbles in the Denver Broncos’ 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers at Levi’s Stadium.
Miller, an outside linebacker, was forced to sit out the Broncos’ 2014 Super Bowl loss against the Seattle Seahawks because of a knee injury.
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Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning looks at the Vince Lombardi Trophy during the Super Bowl 50 awards ceremony following Denver’s 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
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Denver quarterback Peyton Manning is handed the Vince Lombardi Trophy by a teammate during the awards ceremony at Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos General Manager John Elway holds aloft the Vince Lombardi Trophy after Denver defeated Carolina in the Super Bowl in February. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
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Panthers quarterback Cam Newton walks off the field after losing to the Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
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Quarterbacks Cam Newton and Peyton Manning share a brief moment following Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos Coach Gary Kubiak is doused with Gatorade in the closing seconds of a 24-10 victory over the Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos center Matt Paradis reacts as teammate C.J. Anderson scores on a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning reacts after C.J. Anderson’s two-yard TD run against the Panthers.
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Broncos linebacker Von Miller (58) strips the ball from Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) during the fourth quarter.
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Broncos defensive back T.J. Ward recovers a fumble by Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (not pictured) in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos defensive backs Darian Stewart and T.J. Ward celebrate after Ward recovered a fumble by Panthers quarterback Cam Newton in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 50.
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Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) is brought down by Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson during the fourth quarter.
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Panthers receiver Corey Brown (10) makes an off-balance catch against Broncos defensive backs T.J. Ward (43) and Aqib Talib (21) during the second half of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe reacts after sacking Carolina’s Cam Newton (not pictured) during the second half.
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Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning reacts to an incompletion during the second half of Super Bowl 50.
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Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) scrambles from the Broncos’ pass rush during the second half of Super Bowl 50.
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Chris Martin of Coldplay performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday.
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Beyonce gives a hair-raising performance during the Super Bowl 50 halftime show at Levi’s Stadium.
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Bruno Mars, a last-minute addition, performs during the Super Bowl 50 halftime show.
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Chris Martin of Coldplay lays it on the line as he performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl 50.
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Beyonce, Chris Martin and Bruno Mars perform together during the halftime show of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos receiver Jordan Norwood (11) runs the ball deep into Panthers territory on a 61-yard punt return in the first half of Super Bowl 50.
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Panthers quarterback Cam Newton sits on the turf after being knocked down during a pass attempt in the first half of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos running back C.J. Anderson stiff-arms Panthers defensive back Cortland Finnegan during the first half of Super Bowl 50.
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Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) leaps over the line of scrimmage against the Broncos for a one-yard touchdown in the first half.
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Quarterback Cam Newton (1) celebrates with reserve quarterback Derek Anderson after the Panthers scored a touchdown in the first half.
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Panthers tight end Greg Olsen tries to fend off Broncos linebacker Danny Trevathan on a 19-yard reception in the first half.
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Panthers quarterback Cam Newton unleashes a pass against the Broncos in the first half of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib tackles Panthers receiver Corey Brown by using the facemask, drawing a penalty during the first half of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) is sacked by Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) during the first half.
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Broncos running back C.J. Anderson signals first down after he’s brought down by Panthers defensive end Jared Allen in the first half.
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Broncos linebacker Von Miller (58) strips the ball from Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, leading to a fumble recovery for a touchdown by Malik Jackson (not pictured).
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Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson (97) recovers a fumble by Panthers quarterback Cam Newton for a touchdown during the first half.
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Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson (97) celebrates after scoring a touchdown on a fumble recovery in the first half of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning attempts a pass against the Panthers during the first drive of Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos receiver Andre Caldwell makes a 22-yard catch against Panthers defensive back Tre Boston in the first half.
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Broncos kicker Brandon McManus converts a 34-yard field goal in the first half to open the scoring in Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos running back C.J. Anderson (22) makes a reception against Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis (58) during the first half.
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The Blue Angels perform a flyover during pregame ceremonies for Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium.
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Lady Gaga sings the national anthem before the start of Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium last February. (Larry W. Smith / EPA)
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Former Jets quarterback Joe Namath, MVP of Super Bowl III, is introduced before Super Bowl 50.
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Past Super Bowl MVPs are introduced before Super Bowl 50 on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
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Denver’s Corey Nelson (52) and Max Garcia (73) take a moment in the end zone before Super Bowl 50.
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Panthers receiver Corey Brown warms up before Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium.
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NBA star Stephen Curry greets Panthers Coach Ron Rivera before Super Bowl 50.
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Broncos linebacker Von Miller greets NBA star Kevin Durant before Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday.
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Denver Broncos fans cheer during warmups before Super Bowl 50 on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
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Panthers quarterback Cam Newton stretches during warmups before Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
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A Carolina Panthers fan watches as the teams warm up before Super Bowl 50.
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Bonrcos quarterback Peyton Manning warms up Sunday at Levi’s Stadium before Super Bowl 50.
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Fans enter the Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
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Fans take s selfie near military personnel outside Levi’s Stadium before Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
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Denver Broncos fans arrive at Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
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A Panthers fan arrives at Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
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Large dryers are used several hours before Super Bowl 50 to make sure the paint is set in the end zone at Levi’s Stadium.
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Workers take pictures outside Levi’s Stadium before Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
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A security member arrives at Levi’s Stadium before Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
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A soldier stands guard Sunday outside Levi’s Stadium before Super Bowl 50.
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A soldier stands guard outside Levi’s Stadium before Super Bowl 50 on Sunday.
(Ben Margot / Associated Press) He made the most of his opportunity against the Panthers, completing a star-turning season in style by leading a defense that recorded seven sacks and intercepted a pass.
“It feels great,” Miller said. “We have been working for two years. Me and my teammates and all my guys. This is what you work for.”
Both fumbles Miller forced led to touchdowns.
“I’m going for the ball every time,” he said. “That’s just the type of football player I am. If it was basketball, I’d definitely be a three-point shooter. I’m definitely going for the ball.”
In the first quarter, Miller came from Newton’s right side and sacked and stripped him of the ball. End Malik Jackson recovered it in the end zone.
In the fourth quarter, Miller knocked the ball out of Newton’s hand and safety T.J. Ward recovered the ball at the nine.
The Broncos scored a few plays later on C.J. Anderson’s short run.
Sunday’s performance was the second consecutive dominating effort by the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Miller. Two weeks ago, he had two sacks and intercepted a pass in the AFC championship game victory over the New England Patriots.
Miller is only the second defensive player in 13 years to win the Super Bowl MVP award.
“It just shows what type of defense we’ve been playing,” Miller said. “It’s honestly not about me. If I could cut this award I would give it to [linebacker] DeMarcus [Ware] and [end Derek] Wolfe and all the other guys. ... The MVP is great but I’ll take the ring.”
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Carolina Panthers fans watch Super Bowl 50 during a pensive moment at Beelman’s Pub in downtown Los Angeles. Most of the fans at Beelman’s are part of the Roaring Riot, the largest unofficial Panthers fan union in the nation.
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Chelsea Gilligan, left, and Cali Overvack are in knots as they watch the Panthers try to rally against the Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
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Julian Gonzalez, 3, sleeps as Carolina Panthers fans watch Super Bowl 50 at Beelman’s Pub in downtown L.A.
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Carolina Panthers fans, including a screaming Chelsea Gilligan, watch Super Bowl 50 at Beelman’s Pub.
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Panthers fan Chelsea Gilligan throws her hands up in frustration as she watches Super Bowl 50 at Beelman’s Pub.
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Carolina Panthers fans dab in tribute to Cam Newton as they pose for a group picture during halftime of Super Bowl 50 at Beelman’s Pub.
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Broncos fan and bartender Josh Critchfield serves shots as he watches Super Bowl 50 at Cheba Hut in Denver.
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A Denver Broncos fan holds up the “D-Fence” sign during the first half of Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium.
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Fans of the Denver Broncos cheer during the first half of Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium.
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Denver Broncos fans celebrate the team’s 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 near the intersection of 20th and Market streets in Denver.
(David Zalubowski / Associated Press) Miller credited defensive coordinator Wade Phillips for an outstanding game plan.
“It is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Phillips said, “and my lifetime is getting shorter so I’m glad we won this one as a coach.”
