Jayden Daniels is putting some distance between him and his former school.
The Washington Commanders quarterback sent a cease-and-desist letter to LSU this month informing the school that it can no longer use his name, image and likeness, according to ESPN.
While Daniels hasn’t been a member of the Tigers’ program for years, the issue is apparently over his old jersey number. The Tigers are allowing sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett to wear No. 5 this season, which is the same number that Daniels wore when he won the Heisman Trophy in Baton Rouge during the 2023 campaign.
Daniels’ jersey was not retired by the Tigers, but the No. 5 has not been worn by a player since.
“The Daniels family is deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected by LSU’s decision to give Jayden’s number to another player,” the statement from Daniels’ spokesperson said. “Jayden and his family had every reason to believe that his number would remain a meaningful part of his LSU legacy and would be honored and protected in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the university.”
“The Daniels family is deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected by LSU’s decision to give Jayden’s number to another player,” the statement from Daniels’ spokesperson said. “Jayden and his family had every reason to believe that his number would remain a meaningful part of his LSU legacy and would be honored and protected in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the university.”
Daniels spent two seasons with the Tigers. He threw for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns during the 2023 season while becoming just the third player in school history to win the Heisman Trophy. The Commanders then selected Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick.
By comparison, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s No. 9 jersey at LSU hasn’t been worn since he won the Heisman Trophy and led the Tigers to a national championship in the 2019 season.
“Jayden made it clear that he did not want his number given to another player, and he believed his wishes would be respected,” the statement said. “His Heisman Trophy-winning season and everything he accomplished on and off the field cemented his place in LSU history. To see his number given to another player is incredibly disappointing and feels like a failure to honor the significance of what Jayden accomplished at LSU.”
“Jayden made it clear that he did not want his number given to another player, and he believed his wishes would be respected,” the statement said. “His Heisman Trophy-winning season and everything he accomplished on and off the field cemented his place in LSU history. To see his number given to another player is incredibly disappointing and feels like a failure to honor the significance of what Jayden accomplished at LSU.”
No. 5 hasn’t been worn by an LSU player since Jayden Daniels.
Pickett had three interceptions and 37 total tackles last season with the Tigers as a freshman, when he wore No. 3. He was spotted wearing No. 5 last week when the Tigers opened preseason practice.
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin said that Pickett had been promised he could wear No. 5 when he was recruited to the school in 2024. Former LSU coach Brian Kelly told ESPN the same thing, but said that he didn’t issue it to him because Daniels didn’t approve. Kelly was fired last season.
“I just wasn’t prepared to do it until we got a full commitment from another Heisman Trophy winner,” Kelly said. “We didn’t want to issue No. 9, so you can’t treat one differently from the other.”
“I just wasn’t prepared to do it until we got a full commitment from another Heisman Trophy winner,” Kelly said. “We didn’t want to issue No. 9, so you can’t treat one differently from the other.”
LSU went just 7-6 last season. The Tigers then hired Kiffin away from Ole Miss. They’ll open the 2026 campaign against Clemson on Sept. 5.
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