Zack Miller to play two country shows

Former country Bears musician Zack Miller will perform twice this weekend in Chicago – at the Miller Lite Bears Draft Party on Friday night at Soldier Field and Saturday night at Joe’s on Weed Street.

Miller has released three songs, with a fourth expected in late May. Her debut single, How Ya Like Us Now, was released last May and is an upbeat track inspired by those in her small town who doubted she would make the NFL. He estimates that he has written about 50 songs in total.

Miller, who grew up in Weston, also Nebraska, a village of about 300 people. Played six seasons in the NFL – three with the Jaguars and three with the Bears.

Miller’s other songs are “I Was Hoping” and “Torn Up. Which will be released then this spring is All Gas No Brakes. He recorded his songs in Nashville at his friend Colt Caperrun’s Dark River Studios.

Miller’s first two live shows were at the Good Life Sports Bar and Grill near his home in Omaha last May. Since then, he has worked for national artists such as Eli Young Band, Brantley Gilber. Chase Rice, Parker McCollum, and Lanco. Miller will open for David Neil at Joe’s on Weed Street on Saturday night.

Miller made a unique trip to the NFL.

As a quarterback in Nebraska-Omaha, he was a tight end after being picked by Jaguar in the sixth round of the 2009 draft.

Miller appeared in 66 games of 33 starts in three seasons with Jaguar, catching 45 passes for 470 yards and four goals. However, he missed the next three years mainly due to injury.

To fill a significant gap in his non-football life, Miller turned to music and especially loved performing live in front of crowds.

“It’s probably the closest to how I feel playing football,” Miller said. “And then you get the connection. I prefer abbreviated sets where you can tell stories and connect with people. This is where I feel the music the most. But there’s also something to be said when you have a whole group, and it’s a party. And you can feel the energy in the room.

“The biggest thing I like about him is feeling the energy from the crowd. You can connect differently than in football. Football is something separate.