Cowboys star gives up equity in Patrick Mahomes’ company for new number while admitting he’s ‘underpaid’

Von Miller has worn several different jersey numbers during an NFL career that could end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But Miller has a strong preference for No. 40 — and he gave up a major item to ensure that he could wear that jersey with the Dallas Cowboys.

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Dallas fullback Hunter Luepke had worn No. 40 since 2023.

During training camp for the upcoming 2026 season, both Miller and Luepke wore the same number.

But with Week 1 approaching and final rosters being set across the league, the Cowboys were forced to make a decision about the ‘real’ No. 40 on the team.

That’s when Miller’s $198 million in career earnings kicked in.

The 15-year veteran and eight-time Pro Bowler cut a deal with Luepke, giving the Cowboys fullback a percentage of ownership in a chicken company that Patrick Mahomes, Nick Foles and Drew Brees are also a part of.

“You got to give Hunter a great (shout) out,” said Miller, according to The Athletic.

“He’s learned from the best with the negotiators here with the Cowboys. It went down to the final hour, but we were able to get it done. I don’t want to get into the details of it, but I’m happy to say he’s my business partner. He’s a part owner of Greener Pastures Chicken. The chicken of champions.”

Miller grew up in DeSoto, Texas and starred in college at Texas A&M.

The 37-year-old pass rusher — who’s also worn Nos. 58 and 24 in the NFL — is a self-proclaimed ‘nerd’ who majored in Poultry Science and has a variety of off-the-field interests not related to football.

“I was smart, I was good at video games, I read books, I watched the Discovery Channel,” Miller told ESPN.

“I was good at sports, but I was a geek.”

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Miller is also highly underpaid in 2026, after joining the Cowboys on a one-year, $5.5m deal.

But a potential Hall of Famer with almost $200m in pro earnings knows that he financially sold himself short this year, all in the hope of winning a Super Bowl with his favorite childhood team.

“My contract is what it is,” Miller said on the Free Range podcast.

“They’re not paying me for what I do on the football field. If I go out there and I get eight sacks, 10 sacks, I’m way underpaid. I think they’re paying me, and my contract is what it is to be, you know, the locker room guy, to be a great teammate.

“They’re paying me to be on the team, to be the best teammate that I can possibly be, and, you know, help these guys with whatever it may be. Kind of bring some of that Super Bowl culture that I’ve been a part of, you know, my whole entire career.”

Now, Miller gets to proudly wear No. 40 with a star on his helmet while playing pro football in Texas.