Von Miller targets Cowboys No. 40 after signing, but jersey number remains undecided

A day after agreeing to a one-year deal with Dallas, Von Miller says he wants No. 40, a number with history across his career. Fullback Hunter Luepke is among the player(s) Miller would need to work with if No. 40 is available.

By The Apex Times Newsroom3 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Von Miller is trying to bring his most familiar number with him to Dallas. According to Yahoo Sports, a day after signing a one-year deal with the Cowboys, the veteran pass rusher said he does not yet have a set jersey number on the team’s official roster, and he wants No. 40 if it can be made available.

The backdrop to that request is personal and practical. Miller has worn No. 40 at multiple stops, including during his college career at Texas A&M and later with the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills. The number also has meaning to him beyond familiarity, because it has followed him through different phases of his career, not just one franchise run.

Dallas has another legacy number in the building. Miller previously wore No. 58 during his nine seasons with the Denver Broncos, and he also wore No. 24 last season with the Washington Commanders. That means the Cowboys’ decision will not only affect a jersey swap, but also determine which identity Miller is indicating as he enters a new chapter with his fourth different NFC team in recent years.

As of the report, Miller’s path to No. 40 is tied to existing roster numbering. Yahoo Sports notes that Miller has “offers out” to fullback Hunter Luepke, suggesting that Luepke may be a current holder of No. 40 (or at least part of the numbering conversation). The detail matters because NFL jersey numbers are controlled by team equipment and league roster rules, so one player’s preferred number can cascade into others.

The Cowboys’ offseason roster-building adds another layer to the number issue. Even though a jersey is only a small piece of a bigger roster picture, it often becomes a visible report of role and expectations. For a veteran like Miller, who has experience as a high-impact edge presence, settling on a number can shape how teammates and fans connect him to the team’s plans at the start of the year.

For Dallas, Miller’s request is also a reminder that incoming veterans may have to adapt quickly, even in the details. The Yahoo report frames the situation as still unresolved, meaning No. 40 is not guaranteed, and Miller may ultimately receive a different number depending on what the roster dictates at the time of official assignment.

What to watch next is straightforward: whether the Cowboys can accommodate Miller’s preference for No. 40, and how the team handles the numbering logistics around Hunter Luepke and any other player who currently has the relevant number. Once the Cowboys publish their official roster numbers for the season, Miller’s final assignment should become clear, and the story will shift from preference to execution on the field.

In the meantime, the history behind the number provides context for why Miller is pushing for it. By choosing a number he has worn before, he is not just selecting a style preference. He is leaning into a brand he has carried across college and several NFL stops, even as he relocates to a new defensive structure with Dallas.

Why It Matters

Jersey numbers become an early indicator of player identity and how a veteran fits into a team’s visual and cultural expectations at the start of the season.
If No. 40 is held by another Dallas player, the resolution can show how quickly the Cowboys are ironing out roster details for new arrivals.
Miller’s preference highlights the importance of routine and personal branding for veteran players, even when they are entering a new role and defensive context.
Once official roster numbers are published, it will clarify Miller’s on-field look and eliminate the uncertainty described in the report.

Sources

Key Facts

Von Miller said he wants to wear No. 40 with the Dallas Cowboys, but he does not yet know his official number on the team roster.
The report says Miller agreed to a one-year deal with Dallas, and the jersey conversation is happening roughly a day after that agreement.
Miller wore No. 40 at Texas A&M, and also wore No. 40 with the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills.
Miller wore No. 58 during his nine seasons with the Denver Broncos and wore No. 24 last season with the Washington Commanders.
Yahoo Sports reports that Miller has “offers out” to fullback Hunter Luepke as part of trying to secure No. 40.