Hunter Luepke, Cowboys Reportedly Agree to Contract Extension Ahead of 2025 NFL Week 1

On the eve of their first game of the 2025 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys have rewarded fullback Hunter Luepke with a new contract.

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo, Luepke has agreed to a two-year extension worth up to $7.5 million.

Garafolo noted Luepke's deal includes $5 million in guarantees and makes him one of three highest-paid fullbacks in the NFL by average annual salary.

This is the second veteran extension the Cowboys have gotten done this week. DaRon Bland got a four-year, $92 million deal on Sunday that ties him to the organization through the 2029 season.

Luepke is going into his third season with the Cowboys after signing with the club as an undrafted free agent in April 2023. He was earning $905,000 per season on his previous deal.

The fullback position is having a resurgence after being virtually extinct in the NFL nearly a decade ago. Players like Patrick Ricard (Baltimore Ravens), Kyle Juszczyk (San Francisco 49ers) and Alec Ingold (Miami Dolphins) have been vital pieces for some of the league's best offenses in recent years.

Even though the fullback doesn't typically touch the ball a lot, their importance as blockers in run- and pass-protection is one of the reasons more teams are relying on them to boost offensive performance.

New Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer spent the past two seasons as Dallas' offensive coordinator before replacing Mike McCarthy, so he knows the best way to use Luepke in his system.

Luepke, who won two FCS national titles with North Dakota State, has appeared in 33 games over his first two seasons with the Cowboys. He caught 12 passes for 111 yards in 2024.

The Cowboys will open the regular season on Thursday night against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.