Zach Miller

On April 16, 2019, Miller announced his retirement from the NFL. He posted a statement on social media: "The time has come to move on from playing the game of football. It has been an incredible journey for myself and my entire family and we can’t thank you enough for your continued support. I would love nothing more than to step onto Soldier Field one last time, but physically I cannot give the game and our fans what they deserve. It’s difficult to find the words to express my love and gratitude to every single person that has cheered my name, lifted me up and stood strong with me throughout my career. I am forever grateful."

The officials' decision to revert the score was controversial. Referee Carl Cheffers defended the call, explaining Miller needed "to survive the ground" as he landed with the ball. "He went to the ground, he temporarily lost control of the ball. The ball hit the ground; therefore it's incomplete." Although NFL Vice President of Officiating Alberto Riveron also supported the ruling, predecessors Mike Pereira and Dean Blandino argued otherwise; the latter commented, "At some point the process of the catch ends, and it ends when he rolls over on the ground with control. It was ruled a catch on the field. I didn't see anything definitive to overturn it and quite frankly, if it had been ruled incomplete on the field, if it had been me in the command center, I would have reversed it to a catch." In a May 2018 interview, Saints head coach Sean Payton, who visited Miller in the hospital, argued the play should have been a score. The NFL eventually modified catch rules for the 2018 season; under such rules, Miller's catch would have been ruled a touchdown.

In a 2017 game against the New Orleans Saints, he dislocated his knee while attempting to catch a potential touchdown pass. The injury was severe and threatened potential leg amputation, but successful surgeries saved the limb. He retired from football in April 2019 after missing the entire 2018 season.

On March 14, 2016, Miller signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract extension with the Bears. He suffered a broken foot in Week 11 and was placed on injured reserve on November 23. At the time of his injury, Miller was leading the team in receptions (47) and touchdowns (four) with a career-best 486 receiving yards.

Miller returned to the team for the 2015 season on a one-year extension. In Week 9, against the San Diego Chargers, Miller caught Jay Cutler's 25-yard pass with one hand to score the game-winning touchdown; it was Miller's first NFL touchdown since 2011. One week later, Miller caught five passes for 107 yards, including an 87-yard touchdown pass from Cutler, en route to a 37–13 win over the St. Louis Rams; the catch was the longest by a tight end since Byron Chamberlain's 88-yard play in 1999 and the longest touchdown reception by a Chicago Bear since Matt Forte's 89-yard rush in 2010. He ended the 2015 season with 34 receptions for 439 yards and a team-high five touchdowns. He also played in all 16 games and started a career-high 15 games; until 2015, he had started just five games since his career began in 2009, and had not appeared in a regular season game since 2011.

Miller initially attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he was a walk-on for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team. After redshirting his freshman year, he decided to transfer to the University of Nebraska–Omaha in December 2004.

In his first two seasons, he played in 29 games, but suffered a dislocated shoulder in 2011 that ruled him out for the year. The following year, he partially tore his Achilles tendon and calf muscle, and was placed on injured reserve on September 1. He was waived from injured reserve on October 16, 2012; he ended his Jacksonville stint with 33 games played and five starts.

He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. During his NFL career, Miller struggled with various injuries that prevented him from significant playing time. From 2009 to 2011 with the Jaguars, he started only five games with 33 appearances, followed by a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that also resulted in injury. He joined the Chicago Bears in 2014, where he was on injured reserve during his first season. In 2015, Miller enjoyed a breakout season as he appeared in 16 games and recorded five touchdowns, but had further season-ending injuries in subsequent years.

In 2006, he was a regional finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy. He was named NCC offensive player of the week three times. He rushed for 1098 yards and scored 19 touchdowns, being named the NCC Offensive MVP.

In football, Miller only played on the varsity team during his senior year, having broken his collarbone twice in his junior year. In 2002, Bishop Neumann won the Class C-1 state championship when they defeated Gothenburg High School 28–13 in the title game; after having –8 rushing yards in the first half, Miller recorded 149 rushing yards and two touchdowns to lead the Cavaliers to their first title since 1977. He ended the year with school records in passing (1,200) and rushing yards (980).

Zachary Scott Miller (born October 4, 1984) is a former American football tight end. He played quarterback and tight end in college at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.