Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is taking legal action against his alma mater, Louisiana State University, after the school gave his jersey number to a current student.
An attorney representing Daniels told Tigers athletic director Verge Ausberry in an August 5 letter that LSU is no longer allowed to use the quarterback’s name, image and likeness, ESPN reported.
The letter was sent because LSU allowed current sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett to wear the No. 5 jersey that Daniels wore when he became LSU’s third Heisman Trophy winner in 2023, a spokesperson for Daniels confirmed to ESPN.
Daniels’ jersey was not retired by the Tigers, but it is the first time the number has been worn on the team since he joined the NFL.
“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.”
Pickett, the current student, wore a No. 3 jersey during his first season with the Tigers in 2025, but was seen wearing the No. 5 jersey at the start of pre-season last week.
LSU coach Lane Kiffin told reporters on August 5 that Pickett had been promised he could wear No. 5 when he signed with the Tigers in December 2024. Pickett had worn that number in high school.
Former LSU coach Brian Kelly told ESPN on Wednesday that he believed the number was promised to Pickett during recruitment, but he chose not to give it to him last year because Daniels didn’t agree to it.
However, Kelly was fired on October 26, 2025, after his teams compiled a 34-14 record in four seasons.
“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.”
The No. 9 jersey was worn by Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow during his time at LSU. It has not been worn since 2019, when Burrow won the Heisman Trophy and led the Tigers to a 15-0 record and College Football Playoff national championship.
In the cease and desist letter, Daniels’ attorney Adam Kenner noted that his contract with LSU only allowed the school to use his name, image and likeness for 180 days after his final 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,” 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.”
Sources told ESPN that LSU has not yet responded to the letter.
