Earl Heath Miller Jr. (born October 22, 1982) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons from 2005 to 2015. Miller played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers, earning unanimous All-American honors and winning the John Mackey Award. The Steelers selected him in the first round with the 30th overall pick of the 2005 NFL draft.
Miller was born on October 22, 1982, in Richlands, Virginia. He attended Honaker High School and lived in Swords Creek, Virginia. He played quarterback for the Honaker Tigers high school football team, where he earned the Associated Press Player of the Year honor as a senior and was a two-time AP All-State selection. He also earned the All-Southwest Virginia first-team honors at quarterback and was a second-team all-state selection at defensive back, adding Region D Offensive Player of the Year accolades. He set several school records in passing and leading the team to its first state championship game his senior year, in which they lost to King William High School, 25–15.
While attending high school, Miller also played first base for the baseball team where he earned the Black Diamond District first-team honors, and was an All-Region and All-State selection. He was also a forward on the basketball team where he earned the All-District and All-Region honors.
Miller attended the University of Virginia, where he played for coach Al Groh's Virginia Cavaliers football team from 2001 to 2004. Originally signed to play quarterback, Miller made the transition to the tight end position during his redshirt freshman year.
After sitting out in 2001, he started every game in 2002 at tight end. In his first game against Colorado State, he had 4 receptions, 42 receiving yards, and 1 touchdown. He scored touchdowns in each of his first five games at Virginia, setting a school season record for tight ends and led Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) tight ends in receiving all three seasons of his college career.
It took him seven games to set the school record for touchdowns by a tight end. He also threw one pass during his college career, connecting with fellow tight end Patrick Estes for a touchdown against South Carolina in 2002. He also caught a touchdown pass in the same game. In a win against Wake Forest he was held to three catches, two of them going for touchdowns. His five-game streak ended when he was held without a catch against Duke. Against Clemson, he caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Matt Schaub in a 22–17 win. Against North Carolina, he had a season-long 42-yard reception. The following week, Miller had a season-high, six catches for 50 yards against Penn State. Against Virginia Tech, Miller recorded a 15-yard touchdown reception. In the 2002 Continental Tire Bowl win against the West Virginia, he had a season-high 54 receiving yards on three catches. He ended the 2002 season with 33 receptions, 327 receiving yards, nine touchdown catches, and one touchdown pass, leading all ACC tight ends in touchdowns and receptions. His nine touchdown catches were an ACC record for tight ends. He was voted second-team All-ACC and first-team Freshman All-American First by The Sporting News.
Miller opened the 2003 season with five receptions, 54 receiving yards, and one touchdown against Duke. He followed the performance with three catches for 51 yards against Western Michigan and three catches for 17 yards against South Carolina. In a comeback win against Wake Forest, he led the team in catches for the fourth consecutive game with 7 receptions, 94 receiving yards, and one touchdown. He caught a 15-yard pass in the closing minute to set up the game-winning field goal. After a four-catch, 44-yard performance against North Carolina, he posted eight receptions, 52 yards, and one touchdown in an overtime loss to Clemson. Miller had nine receptions, for 77-yards, and a touchdown against the #7-ranked Florida State. Against Georgia Tech, he caught six passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. He won the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week Award for this performance. A week later, he had a career game against in-state rivals Virginia Tech with 13 catches for 145 yards, earning a second consecutive ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week Award. He scored the first touchdown in 2003 Continental Tire Bowl against the Pittsburgh, a 52-yard pass from Matt Schaub. He finished the 2002 season with an ACC record of 70 receptions and 835 receiving yards. He was voted second-team All-American by College Football News and first-team All-ACC.
Miller was voted team captain before his junior season. Miller caught three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown against Temple, extending his streak of consecutive games with at least one catch to 22. The streak ended the following week, when he was held without a catch against North Carolina. The following week, he made six receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns against Akron. Against Syracuse, he caught a 54-yard pass for his only reception in the game. Miller had four catches for 55 yards and a score in a Thursday night win against Clemson. The following game, Miller had season highs of nine catches and 110 yards in a loss against Florida State. Miller played his final college game against Fresno State in the 2004 MPC Computer Bowl. He led the team with five catches and 66 receiving yards. He finished the 2004 season with 41 receptions for 541 yards and five touchdowns. Miller was named unanimous first-team All-American for the 2004 season and was voted first-team All-ACC. He also became the first ACC player to win the John Mackey Award given to the top college tight end.
Miller ended his college career with ACC records for most career receptions (144), yards (1,703) and touchdowns (20) by a tight end. Miller finished second in receptions, seventh in yards, and fourth in touchdown receptions for all positions. He also shares the school record for most 100-yard games by a tight end (3), and he caught at least one pass in 32 of his final 33 games. Miller skipped his senior season to enter the 2005 NFL draft, becoming the fifth player in school history to enter the draft early.
2005: Rookie season and first Super Bowl
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Miller in the first round (30th overall) of the 2005 NFL draft. He was the third tight end drafted by Pittsburgh in the first round in 15 years. On July 26, 2005, the Steelers signed Miller to a five-year, $6.89 million contract with $4.54 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $3.94 million.
He entered training camp competing with veterans Jerame Tuman and Matt Kranchick for the starting tight end position. Miller was named the starting tight end to begin the regular season. He made his professional regular season debut in the Pittsburgh Steelers' season-opener against the Tennessee Titans and caught his first career touchdown on a three-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger in a 34–7 victory. On October 23, 2005, Miller caught a season-high six passes for 58 receiving yards and a touchdown during a 27–13 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. The next game, he made three receptions for 18-yards and a season-high two touchdowns in a 20–19 win against the Baltimore Ravens. During a Week 17 matchup with the Detroit Lions, he caught three passes for a season-high 62 receiving yards in a 35–21 victory.
He finished his rookie season with 39 receptions for 459 yards and six touchdowns.and was named the Pittsburgh Steelers' Joe Greene Great Performance Award presented to the team's top rookie. The Steelers finished second in the AFC North with an 11–5 record. On January 8, 2006, he appeared in his first career postseason game and caught two passes for 15-yards in a 31–17 AFC Wild Card Round victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. The following game, Miller caught three passes for 61 yards and one touchdown in the Steelers' 21–18 upset over the top-seeded Indianapolis Colts in the Divisional Round. After defeating the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship, the Steelers went on to play in Super Bowl XL. On February 5, 2006, they defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 21–10, and Miller earned his first Super Bowl ring. He was held without a catch during the game.