Cowboys Fullback Swaps His Jersey Number ... for Chicken

Hunter Luepke gets a stake in Greener Pastures Chicken from Von Miller for his No. 40
Posted Sep 4, 2026 4:16 PM CDT
Cowboys Fullback Swaps His Jersey Number ... for Chicken
Dallas Cowboys running back Hunter Luepke (formerly No. 40) runs with the ball during an NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.   (AP Photo/Jerome Miron)

Von Miller's new Dallas jersey came with a side of poultry equity. The Cowboys linebacker scored his preferred No. 40 from fullback Hunter Luepke in exchange for a small ownership stake in Greener Pastures Chicken, a company Miller co-owns with quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Drew Brees, and Nick Foles. Luepke reportedly turned down offers including "chicken for life" before agreeing to the deal; he'll now wear No. 30, reports ESPN.

"You got to give Hunter a great shoutout. He's learned from the best negotiators here with the Cowboys. It went down to the final hour, but we were able to get it done," Miller told CBS Sports on Thursday. "I'm happy to say he's my business partner. He's a part owner of Greener Pastures Chicken. The chicken of champions. ... It was only right of Hunter to be a part of that, too. He won three national championships in college. It was a great fit for us. It was a great fit for him. I'm happy that we were able to get it done." Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who stayed out of the negotiations, said he's seen numbers traded for cars and Rolexes, and that veteran players usually "have enough capital" to get the digits they want.

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