In a 30-year football coaching career with 10 teams in three countries and seven leagues, Mike Miller has been lucky enough to be around many fascinating people in the sport.
All those experiences are coming in handy now that he's a head coach for the first time. Miller got the top job this off-season with the Toronto Argonauts following four seasons and two Grey Cups as quarterback coach under Ryan Dinwiddie, who left to take the GM/head coach role with the Ottawa Redblacks.
A big highlight on Miller's journey through NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NFL Europe, NFL, XFL and CFL will come Friday when the 56-year-old makes his debut at the helm in Toronto's season opener against the Alouettes in Montreal.
Miller enters with a vast knowledge of how the game is played because of his unique background. It was during his second football job, as an offensive quality control coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1999-2003, that Miller developed one of the most important connections in his career, working under legendary head coach Bill Cowher in his hometown.
"Just a guy that led by example," Miller, who still keeps in touch with Cowher, said over the phone from the team's base in Guelph, Ont.
"There was something you learned every day (about) how he handled situations, how he handled strategy, how he communicated. The discipline with which he ran the team, setting those standards. It was all very in line with how I was raised. A lot of credit goes to my parents, my family, my grandparents. (Cowher) has been a tremendous influence on me as well.
“He’s a consummate pro. He’s got great knowledge of the game. He can deliver it, communicate it (including now as a broadcaster), I think like no other. He always has great perspective.
Miller, who rose to an offensive co-ordinator job in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals in 2011 and '12, kept his notes from the Cowher years.
At training camp this year, as the Argos wrote in a story on their website, Miller had the team gather at midfield after another coach loudly expressed his displeasure with the squad.
Instead of continuing the criticism, Miller told the team that it was important to come together off the field. To that end, the Argos were taking everyone to a movie — a private screening of "Project Hail Mary", a science-fiction comedy with a football reference in the title.
The news delighted the players, as the team showed on X. Miller made sure to send the post to Cowher, who also made a point of taking his players to the movies during his time with the Steelers.
"That was something we learned from him, what he did," Miller said. "I was pleased to get his text back when he said he loved the delivery and he hoped we got free popcorn.
"So many things I learned from coach, there’s always something each day that pops up, something he said or how he addressed an issue here or there. It’s priceless."
Miller — who also lists the late Dan Radakovich and Joe Walton as mentors after his time with them in his first job as graduate assistant/running backs coach at Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania — will need to put all his football education to use this year as he inherits an Argos team that finished 5-13 last season.
One of the bright spots during a rough 2025 was the play of backup quarterback Nick Arbuckle, pressed into the starting role with star QB Chad Kelly out all season after suffering a broken leg in the 2024 CFL East final. Arbuckle had career bests in most key statistical categories last year.
As QB coach, Miller was an important voice for Arbuckle, who guided the team to the 2024 Grey Cup win as a major underdog against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He also has a close relationship with Kelly, who will look to return to his form from 2023 when he was named the CFL's most outstanding player.
“Chad looks good," said Miller, who also will serve as offensive co-ordinator. "It’s a process coming back. Every day he gets to go out there and see that live pass rush and have to move in the pocket and continue to fine-tune the timing of everything and his vision, managing the game situation, it all improves every time he goes out. He’s a special player and we’re excited to have him."
Defensively, the Argos brought back several stalwarts like linebacker Adarius Pickett, defensive linemen Dewayne Hendrix, Ralph Holley and defensive back DaShaun Amos after the team gave up the most points in the CFL last year.
“The thing I can tell you about all these guys you’re talking about, these guys are even better people, which is saying a lot," said Miller, who hired veteran coach Greg Quick as his defensive co-ordinator. "The relationships are special, the cohesiveness we have right now, how we push through adversity and guys lean on each other. Getting some of those veterans back in the double blue has been great for us."
Miller, who overcame a battle with throat cancer early in his time with the Argos, has never been one to shy away from a challenge. The team will play 12 of its 18 games on the road as the World Cup keeps Toronto away from BMO Field until August. Many are picking the Argos to finish near the bottom of the standings.
"We’re aware what’s said out there, but all that matters in the end is what we believe in our building and how we work each day and our effort to play smart, play fast and play physical," Miller said. "That’s what our focus is on. That’s what it will be on day to day, process-driven. That’s all we’re worried about. We control the controllables, as coach Cowher always said."
Week 2 matchups
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-1) at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-0), Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET
After blowing a 14-point lead in an overtime loss to visiting Montreal last week, the Ticats go into the toughest venue in the league, where they lost 40-3 last year. New linebacker Wynton McManis (knee) will remain out for Hamilton. Will this mark the first win for a home team this year after road squads swept three Week 1 games?
Toronto Argonauts (0-0) at Montreal Alouettes (1-0), Friday, 7 p.m. ET
Kelly returns to the field where he broke his leg for his long-awaited return. Als quarterback Davis Alexander, meanwhile, will try to improve to 13-0 for his career as a starter in the regular season.
B.C. Lions (0-0) at Saskatchewan Roughriders (0-0), Saturday, 7 p.m. ET
A rematch of last year's West final, won in the last minute by Saskatchewan en route to the Grey Cup title. Both teams should be title contenders again this year.
