Von Miller Wears No. 40 at Cowboys Practice as He Pushes to Keep Former Number

Q: Will Hunter Luepke actually accept Von Miller's hilarious chicken offer for the No. 40 jersey ahead of the 2026 season?

It’s too early to say, but the signs suggest Miller has a realistic chance of getting No. 40 if he really wants it. What is clear is that the “lifetime supply of chicken” was delivered as a joke, not as a confirmed agreement. Miller said he and Hunter Luepke had already started talking and that he had made offers, but neither Miller nor the Cowboys have said Luepke accepted. As of Tuesday, Luepke still officially held No. 40 on the roster. At the same time, Miller was already practicing in a Cowboys uniform wearing No. 40, which suggests the issue is still being worked through and that Dallas is at least allowing a temporary use while negotiations continue. Miller has also made clear that No. 40 is his preference because of its ties to Texas A&M and his recent NFL stops, while he does not want No. 94 out of respect for DeMarcus Ware and seems unlikely to return to No. 58 because he views that as his Denver number. In the NFL, jersey-number swaps are often settled privately with money, gifts or other arrangements, so Luepke could certainly decide to move if the compensation is worthwhile. Miller, on a one-year deal worth up to $7.5 million, has the means to sweeten the offer beyond the chicken joke if needed. For now, there is no evidence that Luepke has actually accepted. The most accurate answer is that the negotiation is unresolved, though Miller appears to be the favorite to end up in No. 40.

3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Aug 18

No. 40 was on Von Miller’s jersey at Tuesday’s joint practice with the Saints, a day after the Cowboys signed him to a one-year deal.
Hunter Luepke officially holds 40 on Dallas’ roster, but Miller said he has already made offers for the number — joking that a lifetime supply of chicken might seal it.
Miller ruled out No. 94 out of respect for DeMarcus Ware, saying the former Cowboys star’s number should stay associated with him.
The pass rusher said the jersey choice is secondary to his goal in Dallas: helping the Cowboys win games and contend for a Super Bowl.