It is going to be interesting to see how the Cowboys work Hunter Luepke into their plans.
One young Cowboys player with a lot of fans is fullback Hunter Luepke. But after two years on the roster in Mike McCarthy’s offense, Luepke now has to reprove his worth to a renovated coaching staff. Based on history, particularly Brian Schottenheimer’s, Luepke’s versatility may not have the same value now as it has the last two seasons.
Fullbacks probably get more attention in Dallas than most of the NFL because of our deep-rooted appreciation for Daryl “Moose” Johnston as a beloved figure from the 90s dynasty. Two strong years from Richie Anderson in the early 2000s helped to stoke the fire a bit, too. But even as the position teeters on extinction throughout most of the league, the Cowboys have generally kept one on the roster most seasons.
Luepke is the latest to occupy the job and his abilities as a ball-carrier and receiver, mostly seen during preseason but flashed at times in real games, have led to inordinate hype. McCarthy’s history with renowned fullback John Kuhn in Green Bay, and even Aaron Ripkowski after him, prompted speculation that Luepke could become a prominent name. But thanks to Ezekiel Elliott’s return as the primary short-yardage option and third-down back last year, Luepke’s role was still fairly limited.
Now with Schottenheimer taking full control of the Cowboys’ offense, Luepke’s value could take a hit. Fullbacks have never really seen the ball much in Schottenheimer’s offenses, going back through his past stops with the Seahawks, Rams, and Jets. They may see plenty of work as traditional run-blockers but either he hasn’t had any with much offensive skill or hasn’t chosen to feature it. In Seattle, converted linebacker Nick Bellore was the fullback and only touched the ball five times in two seasons under Schottenheimer.
If this trend holds now that Schottenheimer’s calling plays in Dallas, that could be a real problem for Luepke. Run-blocking is not his strongest trait, which means Dallas might see less need for him to even make the roster. They may look to do more double TE sets to get both Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker on the field, putting whoever their running backs end up being in single-back formations.
Luepke will likely have to either develop as a run blocker or show that he’s the team’s best power RB to improve his job security. While McCarthy and even Jason Garrett before him have given true fullbacks a place to work, Schottenheimer seems less inclined to do so based on history. He has preached being adaptable to his talent, though, so perhaps he’d find ways to take advantage of Luepke’s strengths. But his track record suggests otherwise, and Dallas has foregone even keeping a FB on the roster as recently as 2021-2022.
Whether driven by nostalgia or an appreciation for unique players, Hunter Luepke has developed a following in his first two seasons with Dallas. But with Mike McCarthy gone, will he find the same support from his coaches and the front office? Roster spots are valuable, and being the only fullback is hardly a guarantee of one in the modern NFL. Luepke may have to fight harder than ever to remain with the Cowboys in 2025.
