Jayden Daniels Sets Off Firestorm at LSU Over Jersey Number
The Commanders quarterback sent LSU a cease-and-desist letter for using his NIL.
Jayden Daniels, the quarterback for the NFL's Washington Commanders, is embroiled in a controversy with the University of Louisiana at Baton Rouge (LSU) over the number 5 jersey. The issue stems from LSU allowing cornerback DJ Pickett to wear the same number that Daniels wore when he won the Heisman Trophy in 2023. An attorney for Daniels reportedly sent a cease-and-desist letter to LSU's athletic director, Verge Ausberry, claiming that the school no longer had the right to use any aspect of Daniels's name, image, or likeness (NIL), following the end of the contractual period.
The letter also requested that LSU preserve communications as a potential threat of future litigation. Daniels and his family expressed disappointment and felt disrespected by LSU's decision to give Pickett the number, stating they had believed the number would remain part of Daniels's LSU legacy. LSU head coach Lane Kiffin responded by stating that he wouldn't judge the situation since he wasn't involved when Pickett was promised the number.
Pickett, a sophomore, defended his decision to wear the number, saying it was the one he was promised since he was four years old. The situation has sparked reactions around Tiger Stadium, with some showing support for Daniels and others for Pickett.
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