Jayden Daniels Sends Cease and Desist to His Alma Mater LSU Over Jersey Number Debacle

NEED TO KNOW

• Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels sent a cease and desist to his alma mater, LSU, for his name, image and likeness after the university allowed another player to wear his number
• Daniels’ attorney told ESPN, “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”
• LSU head coach Lane Kiffin said the No. 5 jersey was “promised” to sophomore DJ Pickett

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has informed his alma mater, Louisiana State University (LSU), that his name, image and likeness are no longer available for use after the university allowed another player to wear his number.

According to ESPN, an attorney representing Daniels, 25, sent a cease and desist to LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry on Wednesday, Aug. 5. The outlet obtained a copy of the letter on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

“The Daniels family is deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected by LSU’s decision to give Jayden’s number to another player,” the quarterback’s spokesperson told ESPN in a statement. “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 Tigers permitted sophomore DJ Pickett to wear No. 5, which Daniels wore during his two seasons at LSU. Pickett had previously worn No. 3, with ESPN reporting that the quarterback practiced in a No. 5 jersey last week.

LSU did not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for comment on Thursday, Aug. 13.

“Jayden made it clear that he did not want his number given to another player, and he believed his wishes would be respected. His Heisman Trophy-winning season and everything he accomplished on and off the field cemented his place in LSU history,” Daniels’ attorney told ESPN, referring to the quarterback’s Heisman Trophy win in 2023. “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.”

LSU’s new coach, Lane Kiffin, was asked about Pickett’s number change on Aug. 5. He said the sophomore was “promised” he could wear No. 5 when he signed with the Tigers, according to ESPN. “DJ is in [No.] 5, and that was a situation that was promised to him in recruiting here, for him to sign here,” Kiffin told reporters.

“I’ve done a lot of research on that with the family and the representatives and the people, so really I didn’t have a decision to make. It was promised to the kid. It wasn’t done for whatever [reason]. I’m not going to get into that. I’m not going to judge something [that was done] when I wasn’t here. But when a kid is promised something to come to a school, he should wear it. So at that point, I don’t think that’s really my decision. We should honor what he was told,” the first-year coach added.

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LSU has not allowed a player to wear No. 9 since Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow led the Tigers to the 2020 national championship.

The Tigers have retired the jerseys of four former players: Billy Cannon, Tommy Casanova, Jerry Stovall and Charles Alexander, per ESPN. On Saturday, Nov. 14, former quarterback Bert Jones will have his jersey retired by the Tigers.

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