Miller knew the time was right

February 19, 2016
Tight end Heath Miller announced his retirement 

Heath Miller didn’t want any fanfare when he retired from the Steelers, instead just releasing a statement.

“Today, I informed the Steelers of my plans to retire,” Miller’s statement read. “I realize how extremely fortunate and grateful I am to have spent my entire career as a Pittsburgh Steeler. I would like to thank the Rooney Family, Kevin Colbert, Bill Cowher, Mike Tomlin, James Daniel and the rest of the Steelers organization for giving me the opportunity to live out my childhood dream. I will always cherish and value the special bonds that I formed with my teammates. It was truly an honor for me to take the field with them. I am also appreciative of my entire family and all of the coaches who helped me along the way. Additionally, I want to thank Steelers Nation, the best fans in the NFL.

“Lastly, I owe the biggest thank you to my wife, Katie, and our four children for their unwavering support.”

And with that, the best tight end in Steelers’ history quietly stepped away from the game.

But what did for the team, will remain forever.

Miller was the Steelers No. 1 pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Miller, who played 11 seasons, started 167 of 168 games played during the regular season, and he started all 15 postseason contests that he played in. Miller’s 168 regular-season games played are the most by a tight end in Steelers’ history.

“It’s been an honor and a pleasure to coach him, to watch him grow and evolve and perform,” said Tomlin after Miller’s retirement. “To watch him grow in every way. To watch his sons get old enough to come to work with him on a Saturday morning and see those relationships. He is not low maintenance, he has been no maintenance. He has always put the Pittsburgh Steelers first in every aspect of his professional life. I don’t know that I can describe that. I don’t know if there has been a guy that I have been…