NFL star Jayden Daniels sends cease-and-desist to college over player wearing his old jersey
NBC News • • sports
Key Points:
- Jayden Daniels' representative has informed LSU that the school can no longer use the quarterback's name, image, and likeness due to LSU allowing cornerback D.J. Pickett to wear Daniels' former No. 5 jersey.
- Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, requested that his jersey number not be given to another player, feeling that reassigning it disrespects his accomplishments at LSU.
- This is the first time since Daniels left that an LSU player will wear No. 5, although the number had not been officially retired by the school.
- D.J. Pickett, a former five-star recruit who wore No. 3 last season, is switching to No. 5 this year; LSU coach Lane Kiffin stated that Pickett was promised the number when he signed under former coach Brian Kelly.
- Brian Kelly was fired in October 2025, and Lane Kiffin took over as LSU coach at the end of the regular season, leading to the current jersey number controversy.
