Miller, who played collegiately at the
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, signed a
free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs after not being taken in the
1974 NFL draft. Miller played well as rookie, rushing for 186 yards on 40 carries (4.7 avg.) and catching 14 passes for 149 yards (10.6 avg.) Midway through his second season, Miller was traded to the Cleveland Browns, and finished the 1975 season with only 13 carries. Miller earned a starting role in Browns' backfield for the 1976 season, a job he would hold through 1979. In 1976 Miller ran for 613 yards and four touchdowns (4.0 avg.) as a
fullback blocking for All-Pro running back
Greg Pruitt. The Browns finished the season with a record of 9-5, but failed to make the playoffs despite ranking 9th in the league in rushing. In 1977, Miller had the best season of his career. He rushed for 756 yards on 163 carries, career-highs in both categories, and scored four touchdowns. He also set a career-high with 41 receptions. The Browns were 8th in the league in rushing yards and had the 3rd best yards per carry (4.3), but they only managed a 6-8 record. After starting nine games and rushing for 336 yards in 1978, Miller was relegated to a back-up role for the remainder of his career. In 1980, the Browns won the
AFC Central Division with an 11-5 record behind the efforts of All-Pros
Mike Pruitt,
Ozzie Newsome and
Brian Sipe, who was also named league MVP. Miller contributed in a reserve role, rushing for 139 yards on 28 carries (5.0 avg.) and one touchdown. Nicknamed the
Kardiac Kids the Browns lost in the
divisional round of the playoffs to the eventual
Super Bowl champion
Oakland Raiders 14-12. Miller appeared in the game, carrying the ball only one time for one yard. In Miller's final NFL season he appeared in only five games during the
strike-shortened 1982 season. He finished his NFL career with 2,492 yards rushing (4.2 avg.) and 16 touchdowns. Miller also caught 140 passes for 1,175 yards and one touchdown. He is eleventh in Browns history in rushing yards and thirteenth in rushing touchdowns. ==USFL career==