ESPN draft analyst loses arm after being in serious car accident in Missouri
Matt Miller, a native of Joplin, took the long road to becoming one of ESPN’s top NFL Draft analysts, but he still calls Missouri home.
Miller shared Tuesday on social media that he is fortunate to be alive after being involved in a car wreck in rural Missouri that cost him his left arm.
“Last week, I was involved in a serious car accident in Missouri and was airlifted to Mercy Hospital,” Miller wrote on X. “I’m deeply grateful for the exceptional care I have received, from the first responders to the doctors, nurses and medical staff. I’m incredibly fortunate to be writing this.
“As a result of the accident, I sustained significant injuries, including multiple fractures and broken ribs. I also underwent a life-saving amputation of my left arm. While I have a long road ahead, I’m focused on my recovery and taking things one day at a time. “Thank you for the overwhelming support, prayers and kind messages — they have meant so much to me and my family during this time.
“I look forward to continuing my recovery and getting back to ESPN to talk football, including what should be an exciting 2027 NFL Draft class.”
Mercy Hospital is in Joplin, Missouri, not far from where Miller lives.
KOAM News shared details of the police report of the accident, which happened north of Joplin.
This is from that story: “a 2023 Bronco, driven by a 42-year old Webb City, Mo. man, was eastbound on Mo-96, crossed the center line and struck a semi tractor trailer. He suffered serious injuries and was flown to Mercy Joplin. The 2024 International semi was westbound on Mo-96, driven by a 28-year old man from Springfield, Mo. He was not injured. ...
“The driver of the Bronco is identified by friends as Matt Miller, an ESPN analyst.”
Miller’s journey to ESPN
In a 2024 interview with KSNF-TV in Joplin, Miller detailed his journey from a small Missouri town to ESPN.
That story noted Miller was Bleacher Report’s lead NFL Draft writer from 2010-2021. He was a coach for the CFL’s Joplin Crusaders from 2006-08, then director of scouting for New Era Scouting from 2006-10. He joined Bleacher Report as an NFL Draft writer in 2010 before joining ESPN in 2021.
“I grew up in Liberal, Missouri, which is like a population (of) 700 people when I was there,” Miller said in the interview. “So to still be in this area, I think I get asked all the time, like, ‘Why do you still live there? Why don’t you live in Connecticut or all these places?’ And you know, I’m from here and I’m proud to be from here. My family’s here. ... I went to Missouri Southern. I coached for the Joplin Crusaders.
“To go from working in marketing at Miller’s Professional Imaging in Pittsburg, Kansas, to being the face of Bleacher Report to NFL coverage, that happened in like a three-year span for me. So it was like a whirlwind.”
This story was originally published June 23, 2026 at 10:43 AM.
