For professional athletes, switching a jersey number is a big business move. New Dallas Cowboys teammates Von Miller and Hunter Luepke seem to understand that.
Before the 2026 season begins, Miller and Luepke have been negotiating over who will wear the No. 40 jersey in Dallas. Miller wants the No. 40 that Luepke has worn since joining the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2023. According to Miller, Luepke is a savvy negotiator.
“We had to kind of do some negotiating at first. He’s been 40 for a long time. It ain’t something I just can come in and boss hog,” Miller said on the latest episode of his Free Range podcast. “When I talked to him about it right when I signed with the Dallas Cowboys, I hit him on Instagram and he was like, ‘We can figure something out.’ I came up with the idea I’d give him chicken for life. Of course, being the great negotiator he is, he was like, ‘How about equity in Greener Pastures Chicken?'”
Greener Pastures Chicken is the poultry farm Miller owns in the Austin area. Miller said Luepke wanted 2% equity in the farm. Miller didn’t disclose how the rest of their negotiations went down, but the pass rusher did say he offered to pay $40,000 to $50,000 for the fullback to get new tattoos. Luepke opted for the farm route.
“He went with the more business-savvy choice of it, which would be to get equity in Greener Pastures Chicken. It’s a small piece, but he’s a part of the team. I think him being a partner of Greener Pastures Chicken, playing for the Dallas Cowboys, wearing the hat, I think it was valuable on my end and valuable on his end as well,” Miller said.
“We were able to work something out, and I think I’m 90% sure we’ll be able to get that [deal] done,” Miller said.