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

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has formally instructed Louisiana State University to cease and desist using his name, image, and likeness, escalating a dispute over the school issuing his former jersey number to a current player, according to an attorney letter obtained by ESPN. Attorney Adam Kenner sent the Aug. 5 notice to LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry after the Tigers allowed sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett to take the No. 5 jersey that Daniels wore during his 2023 Heisman Trophy-winning season.

Daniels Disputes LSU’s Decision on No. 5 Jersey

The conflict centers on LSU granting Pickett the single-digit jersey ahead of preseason practices, according to a statement from a Daniels spokesperson. While LSU has not officially retired the No. 5 jersey, no player wore it between Daniels’ departure for the NFL and Pickett stepping onto the field this season. Daniels’ contract with the university permitted Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) usage for 180 days past his final collegiate game, a window that has since closed, prompting the legal filing. “The Daniels family is deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected by LSU’s decision to give Jayden’s number to another player,” the statement said. “Jayden and his family had every reason to believe that his number would remain a meaningful part of his LSU legacy.” Sources indicate Daniels believes the situation deviates from how the program handled quarterback Joe Burrow’s No. 9 jersey after his 2019 national championship season.

Coaching Staff Citations and Recruiting Promises

First-year LSU coach Lane Kiffin told reporters on Aug. 5 that the jersey number was explicitly promised to Pickett during his recruitment in December 2024, when the defensive back committed to the program in Zephyrhills, Florida. “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. Former coach Brian Kelly corroborated that the number had been promised during recruitment, noting to ESPN that he withheld the jersey during his tenure because Daniels had not given approval. “I just wasn’t prepared to do it until we got a full commitment from another Heisman Trophy winner,” Kelly said. Kelly was fired on Oct. 26, 2025, after posting a 34-14 record across four seasons, opening the door for Kiffin to fulfill the recruiting pledge.

LSU Jersey Retirement Policy and Precedents

Under LSU’s athletic department guidelines, athletes must wait five years post-competition for jersey retirement consideration, requiring extraordinary milestones such as winning a Heisman Trophy. The school has permanently retired four football jerseys—Billy Cannon (No. 20), Tommy Casanova (No. 37), Jerry Stovall (No. 21), and Charles Alexander (No. 4)—with Bert Jones’ No. 7 scheduled for retirement on Nov. 14. However, updated department policy dictates that any number retired after Jan. 1, 2007, does not legally block a current student-athlete from wearing it, depending on head coach discretion. Cannon’s No. 20 remains the sole football number permanently locked from circulation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Jayden Daniels send a cease-and-desist to LSU?

Daniels’ attorney sent the notice because LSU assigned his former No. 5 jersey to sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett, which Daniels and his family view as a failure to respect his legacy.

Has LSU permanently retired Jayden Daniels’ number?

No. The No. 5 jersey has not been retired by the program, and modern LSU policy allows head coaches to issue numbers retired after 2007 to active players at their discretion.

What did Lane Kiffin say about the jersey number?

Kiffin stated that DJ Pickett was explicitly promised the No. 5 jersey during his recruitment in December 2024, making the decision binding when the player signed with the Tigers.

How does this compare to Joe Burrow’s number?

Sources close to Daniels note that Burrow’s No. 9 jersey has not been issued to any player since the quarterback won the Heisman Trophy and national title in 2019.