NFL quarterback Jayden Daniels won the prestigious Heisman Trophy while playing for the Louisiana State University Tigers back in 2023, leading the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in total yards all while setting a single-season passer rating record as well.
He went on to be drafted second overall by the Washington Commanders to be their starting quarterback.
However, he’s now making headlines and has even sent a cease and desist legal letter to the LSU Tigers.
What happened between Jayden Daniels and the LSU Tigers?
When a player has an impact on a program, whether in the high school, college, or pro level, often, their jersey number will be retired. This is a sign of respect for the player who wore the jersey.
The Tigers are allowing LSU sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett to wear the same number Daniels wore, number 5.
In comparison, Joe Burrow won the Heisman with LSU back in 2019 and his number 9 jersey has not been worn since. Joe also led the Tigers to a National Championship win and a 15-0 season.
Read the statement released by Jayden Daniels and his family over this dispute
“The Daniels family is deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected by LSU’s decision to give Jayden’s number to another player. 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,” a spokesperson for the family said (via ESPN).
“Jayden made it clear that he did not want his number given to another player, and he believed his wishes would be respected. His Heisman Trophy-winning season and everything he accomplished on and off the field cemented his place in LSU history. To see his number given to another player is incredibly disappointing and feels like a failure to honor the significance of what Jayden accomplished at LSU.”
Coach Lane Kiffin explained why number 5 was given to a sophomore
“DJ is in [No.] 5, and that was a situation that was promised to him in recruiting here, for him to sign here. I’ve done a lot of research on that with the family and the representatives and the people, so really I didn’t have a decision to make. It was promised to the kid. It wasn’t done for whatever [reason]. I’m not going to get into that,” he said. “I’m not going to judge something [that was done] when I wasn’t here. But when a kid is promised something to come to a school, he should wear it. So at that point, I don’t think that’s really my decision. We should honor what he was told.”
The Daniels family sent a cease and desist letter earlier this month
Tigers athletic director Verge Ausberry received a cease and desist from the family.
The letter apparently said: “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. 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.”
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