Steelers tight end Heath Miller was recognized for his outstanding play by his teammates today, who voted him the team's 2012 Most Valuable Player. It is the first time in Miller's eight-year career that he has received the honor.
Miller, who was recently named to his second Pro Bowl, was on pace to have his best season of his career. He currently leads the team with 71 receptions, only five short of tying his single-season career high that he set in 2009. Miller already has established career highs for a single season with 816 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns.
But due to a right knee injury, Miller was placed on the team's Reserve/Injured List on December 26, 2012 and will miss the season finale versus the Cleveland Browns. If Miller's 71 receptions remain a team high at the end of the season, he will become the first tight end to lead the team in receptions since Eric Green in 1993.
Miller recently 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. Miller currently ranks third in team history in receptions (408), seventh in yards (4,680) and is tied for fifth in receiving touchdowns (39).
Miller is the first Steelers tight end to be named team MVP.
The following is the list of Steelers MVPs since 1969:
| 1969 | WR Roy Jeffeson | 1991 | LB Greg Lloyd |
| 1970 | DT Joe Greene | 1992 | RB Barry Foster |
| 1971 | LB Andy Russell | 1993 | CB Rod Woodson |
| 1972 | RB Franco Harris | 1994 | LB Greg Lloyd |
| 1973 | WR Ron Shanklin | 1995 | QB Neil O'Donnell |
| 1974 | S Glen Edwards | 1996 | RB Jerome Bettis |
| 1975 | CB Mel Blount | 1997 | RB Jerome Bettis |
| 1976 | LB Jack Lambert | 1998 | LB Levon Kirkland |
| 1977 | QB Terry Bradshaw | 1999 | LB Levon Kirkland |
| 1978 | QB Terry Bradshaw | 2000 | RB Jerome Bettis |
| 1979 | WR John Stallworth | 2001 | QB Kordell Stewart |
| 1980 | SS Donnie Shell | 2002 | WR Hines Ward |
| 1981 | LB Jack Lambert | LB Joey Porter | |
| 1982 | CB Dwayne Woodruff | 2003 | WR Hines Ward |
| 1983 | PK Gary Anderson | 2004 | LB James Farrior |
| 1984 | WR John Stallworth | 2005 | NT Casey Hampton |
| 1985 | WR Louis Lipps | WR Hines Ward | |
| 1986 | LB Bryan Hinkle | 2006 | RB Willie Parker |
| 1987 | LB Mike Merriweather | 2007 | LB James Harrison |
| 1988 | LB David Little | 2008 | LB James Harrison |
| CB Rod Woodson | 2009 | QB Ben Roethlisberger | |
| 1989 | WR Louis Lipps | 2010 | SS Troy Polamalu |
| 1990 | CB Rod Woodson | 2011 | WR Antonio Brown |
| 2012 | TE Heath Miller |
