It should come as no surprise that Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller was voted the team\’s 2012 Most Valuable Player on Thursday and it marks the first time a tight end has won the award.
Miller, who had his season come to an end last Sunday in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals after tearing his ACL, MCL and PCL, currently leads the team with 71 receptions and was only five short of tying his single-season career high that he set in 2009. The Steelers former first round draft pick did manage to establish a career single season highs with 816 receiving yards and eight touchdowns prior to his injury.
This season Miller became just the third Steeler in team history to record 400 career receptions, and he also became the franchise’s all-time leader in receiving touchdowns by a tight end, breaking Elbie Nickel’s record of 37. The Virginia product currently ranks third in team history in receptions (408), seventh in yards (4,680) and is tied for fifth in receiving touchdowns (39).
Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley said during his introductory press conference this past offseason that Miller would be a primary focus this season in the passing game and he stuck to that promise. Miller was targeted a total of 101 times this season and 44 of his 71 catches moved the chains.
The MVP award comes one day after Miller was selected to his second Pro Bowl on Wednesday. Another well deserved honor.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown won the award last season.
