Former Denver Broncos pass-rushing legend Von Miller is not slouch on or off the football field. Instead, it sounds like he's also well-versed in the art of the deal.
In Miller's latest episode of his Free Range podcast, Miller detailed the lengths he went to get No. 40 with his new team, the Dallas Cowboys
. Miller was adamant in wanting to wear the number, as it was what he wore when he attended Texas A&M in college."We kind of had to do some negotiating at first," Miller said of trying to wrangle the number, which until recently, was worn by Cowboys fullback Hunter Luepke. "He's been 40 for a long time. It ain't something that I can just come in and Boss Hogg."
Miller said he first offered Luepke free chicken for life for No. 40, before Luepke counteroffered
with an interesting proposition: a stake in Miller's Greener Pasture Chicken business.
"He wanted 2% equity, which would be up in the multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars," Miller said. "But I think a piece of that I was able to work it out... we were able to work it out, and I'm 90% sure that I'll be No. 40 (in 2026)."
You can view the entire snippet below, courtesy of Cowboys Wire.
#Cowboys Von Miller says he’s “90 percent sure” he’ll be No. 40.
— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) September 2, 2026
He and Hunter Luepke negotiated a deal that went in a few different directions.
Free chicken for life, full-body tattoo work, but ultimately landed on equity in Miller’s Chicken company.
(🎥: Free Range Podcast) pic.twitter.com/bCnEpf3UEY
Miller didn't really consider any other number from the storied franchise, declining to wear No. 94 in honor of Hall of Famer Demarcus Ware, or even No. 24, a number he wore last year as a member of the Washington Commanders, which was a tribute to another Hall of Famer, cornerback Champ Bailey. No. 40 was always his target, as an homage to the state that gave him his college start.
Of course, fans will most likely always remember Miller in orange and blue, wearing No. 58. That can never be taken away, and Miller has said he won't wear it outside of Denver.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Von Miller used a creative deal to secure jersey number with his new team
