Before Von Miller even sacks a quarterback in Dallas, he has a negotiation tougher than any O-line in front of him. This dude, a future Hall of Famer who has conquered Super Bowls and monster contracts, is now trying to pry the No. 40 jersey off teammate Hunter Luepke. How far is Miller willing to go, and how much is he willing to spend to get his number?
The Chicken Man Cometh
As it turns out, Miller’s opening offer to Luepke on Tuesday was a rather unique one. He is offering a lifetime supply of chicken in exchange for the No. 40 jersey, as reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. You heard that right, no cash, only chicken. Miller isn’t bluffing either. As the co-founder and co-owner of Texas-based Greener Pastures Chicken, he can easily deliver on that poultry-fueled promise. Luepke has yet to bite, so the ball is in his court to see if a lifetime of chicken is tasty enough to swap jersey numbers.
The Craziest Number Trades in Sports History
Miller’s unique offer isn’t the first time athletes have gotten creative for their preferred numbers. Remember Adrian Wilson? After wearing No. 24 for 12 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, he wanted to keep it when he signed with the New England Patriots in 2013. Cornerback Kyle Arrington already had it. Knowing Arrington had just become a father, Wilson offered a full year’s supply of Pampers. Arrington accepted, but Wilson was released during final roster cuts and never played a regular season snap with the Patriots wearing his beloved No. 24. Talk about a raw deal.
Then there’s Juan Soto. After signing a massive 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets during the 2024 offseason, his top priority was securing his signature No. 22 jersey from Bretty Baty. After some negotiation, Soto officially sealed the deal before the start of the regular season. He surprised Baty with a brand-new $92,000 Chevy Tahoe, with “Thanks for #22” written across the back window of the SUV. Baty switched to No. 7, and Soto still rocks No. 22. And who could forget Donovan McNabb joining the Vikings in 2011? His No. 5 was held by punter Chris Kluwe, who made sure the negotiations were anything but typical. McNabb went along with one of the funniest jersey trades in NFL history, costing him a $5,000 charity donation, a public shoutout for Kluwe’s band Tripping Icarus, and an ice cream cone. Just like that, the deal was sealed, even though McNabb only started six games for Minnesota.
So, will Luepke accept the poultry-fueled promise from Miller? The ball’s in his court now. This saga for No. 40 is only getting started, and you gotta wonder what Miller has in his back pocket if chicken isn’t enough!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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