By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-13 21:28:39 | Updated at 2026-08-13 23:23:50
4 hours ago
Jayden Daniels has sent a cease-and-desist letter telling LSU it can no longer use his name, image and likeness, claiming he has been 'profoundly disrespected' by the school where he won the Heisman Trophy.
LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry was sent a letter by an attorney representing the Washington Commanders quarterback. And a spokesperson for Daniels explained the dispute is caused by sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett being allowed to wear the No.5 jersey this season.
Daniels wore the number after he transferred from Arizona State in 2022 then won the Heisman Trophy in his second season in 2023 before being taken No.2 overall in the NFL Draft.
The number has not been worn since he left the program until this season, while the numbers worn by LSU's other two Heisman Trophy winners (Joe Burrow, No.9 and Billy Cannon, No.20) have not been worn since.
It has also been claimed by LouisianaSports.net that Daniels' camp wants LSU to return its copy of his Heisman Trophy. The Heisman Trust gives the university of the winning player its own copy, and LSU reportedly has no intention of returning the one it received for Daniels' victory.
'The Daniels family is deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected by LSU's decision to give Jayden's number to another player,' Daniels' spokesperson told ESPN.
Jayden Daniels feels 'profoundly disrespected' after LSU allowed a current player to wear No.5
Daniels is now wearing the No.5 in the NFL as quarterback for the Washington Commanders
'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.
'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. 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.'
Daniels later addressed the issue himself on social media, writing on his Instagram Stories: 'I have been locked in on training camp and that's been my number one focus.
'I have a lot of gratitude for my time at LSU and I'm proud of what my teammates and I accomplished there. Obviously there are issues to be worked out between my team and LSU and my hope is that it will get done privately.
'My sole focus is on Commanders' football. I realize the business of football is unique and I trust this can all be resolved.'
Pickett, who was a freshman All-American last year and led LSU with three interceptions, raised eyebrows when he was pictured in training camp wearing the No.5 having worn the No.3 jersey last year.
Head coach Lane Kiffin said he had been promised he could wear No.5, his high school number, when he signed with the Tigers in December 2024 as the No.2 cornerback in the 2025 Class.
'DJ is in [No.] 5, and that was a situation that was promised to him in recruiting here, for him to sign here,' Kiffin said. '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.'
Daniels won the Heisman Trophy, the third LSU player to do so, in 2023, his final college season
Joe Burrow's No.9 jersey has not been worn by an LSU player since he won the Heisman
Brian Kelly, the former LSU coach who recruited Pickett, said he chose not to give him the number as Daniels was not on board before he was fired.
'I just wasn't prepared to do it until we got a full commitment from another Heisman Trophy winner,' Kelly told ESPN. 'We didn't want to issue No. 9, so you can't treat one differently from the other.'
LSU has a policy on its athletic department website regarding jerseys being retired, stating that any number retired from 2007 onwards 'does not preclude a current student-athlete in that sport from wearing the jersey number in that or any other sport, subject to the discretion of the head coach.'
The policy also states athletes must have completed competition for five years before they are nominated to have their jersey retirement, or must have 'demonstrated truly unusual and outstanding accomplishments, such as winning a Heisman Trophy or National Player of the Year award and should be based on the total LSU career.'
ESPN reports that LSU has yet to respond to the letter, that noted Daniels' contract with LSU permitted to use his name, image and likeness for 180 days after his final college game.
'Accordingly, LSU must immediately cease and desist from any further issue use, display, publication, distribution, promotion, commercialization, or other exploitation of Mr. Daniels' NIL in any manner or medium,' attorney Adam Kenner wrote. 'Any use of Mr. Daniels' NIL occurring after LSU's receipt of this notice will be deemed knowing and willful and will be pursued vigorously through all available legal and equitable remedies, without further notice.'
