Jayden Daniels Sends LSU Cease-and-Desist Over No. 5 Jersey

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana —

An attorney for Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels sent LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry a cease-and-desist letter on August 5, telling the school it can no longer use Daniels' name, image or likeness, according to a copy of the letter obtained by ESPN.

The dispute centers on LSU's decision to let sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett wear No. 5, the number Daniels wore in 2023 when he won the Heisman Trophy, the school's third. Daniels' number had not been worn by anyone else since he left for the NFL, though LSU never officially retired it, ESPN reported.

Daniels' attorney, Adam Kenner, cited Daniels' NIL agreement with LSU, which allowed the school to use his name, image and likeness for 180 days after his final college game, according to ESPN. Kenner's letter demanded LSU "immediately cease and desist" any further use of Daniels' NIL.

"The Daniels family is deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected by LSU's decision to give Jayden's number to another player," a spokesperson for the family 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."

Coach says the number was promised

LSU coach Lane Kiffin told reporters on August 5 that Pickett, who wore No. 3 as a freshman last season and earned freshman All-American honors with three interceptions, had been promised No. 5 during his recruitment under former coach Brian Kelly. "When a kid is promised something to come to a school, he should wear it," Kiffin said, according to ESPN.

Kelly confirmed to ESPN that Pickett had been promised the number but said he held off giving it to him while Daniels was still at LSU, because he did not want to issue it without Daniels' approval. Kelly pointed to LSU's treatment of Joe Burrow's No. 9, which has gone unworn since Burrow's Heisman-winning 2019 season, according to ESPN.

LSU's published jersey policy states that any number retired after January 1, 2007, does not stop a current player from wearing it, subject to the head coach's discretion, ESPN reported. Only Billy Cannon's No. 20, retired before that cutoff, cannot be worn again by a football player.

Backlash follows the letter

CBS Sports reported that reaction to Daniels' move has been largely unsympathetic, with critics online calling the cease-and-desist letter combative. Some of the criticism has also focused on the role of Daniels' mother, Regina Jackson, who serves as his agent, according to CBS Sports.

Daniels transferred to LSU from Arizona State and passed for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns while rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 more in 2023, numbers that helped him become the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, according to CBS Sports. An LSU athletic department spokesman declined to comment when ESPN reached out on Wednesday.