Von Miller wanted to reclaim his No. 40 jersey with Dallas after joining the team. The eight-time Pro Bowl pass rusher and the Cowboys’ fullback Hunter Luepke had shared the number during training camp, but NFL rules prevent two players from wearing the same number during the regular season. Luepke had worn No. 40 since arriving in Dallas in 2023, while Miller has worn No. 40 throughout high school, college, and prior NFL stops.
The two sides struck an unusual arrangement on Thursday. Miller secured No. 40 by offering Luepke a stake in his chicken business, Greener Pastures Chicken. Luepke will now wear No. 30, and in return, he will receive free chicken for life.
“You’ve got to give Hunter a great shout-out,” Miller said, noting that he leaned on the Cowboys’ negotiating experience. “It went down to the final hour, but we were able to get it done.”
Beyond the number swap, Miller revealed that Luepke is a part owner of Greener Pastures Chicken, described as “the chicken of champions.”
Von Miller’s return to Texas adds another layer to his long-standing ties to the state, where he grew up and played college football. Miller, raised in DeSoto, attended Texas A&M, where he studied poultry science. He joined Dallas after a productive 2025 season with the Washington Commanders, during which he posted nine sacks while appearing in all 17 games.
Miller also expressed his enthusiasm about joining the Cowboys on social media, signaling his intent to contribute to a revamped pass-rush unit. The veteran presence comes as Dallas looks to bolster its defense, after finishing the 2025 season with a high points allowance.
With Miller in the mix, Dallas plans for a rotational role that can also aid younger pass rushers. In the previous season, Miller appeared in a substantial portion of the defensive snaps, producing nine sacks and 15 quarterback hits. Dallas ranked among the league’s higher-scoring defenses, and Miller’s experience is expected to help address some of those challenges as the team prepares for the upcoming schedule, including a season-opening matchup against the New York Giants.
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