Jayden Daniels has enjoyed a nice start to his NFL career with the Washington Commanders, highlighted by his 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Right before Daniels got to the NFL, the 6-4 quarterback starred at LSU, where he won the 2023 Heisman Trophy. But now he has brought legal action against his alma mater.
According to a copy of a letter obtained by ESPN, representatives for the Commanders quarterback notified LSU the university is not authorized to use Daniels' name, image, or likeness in any capacity after the program allowed sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett wear Daniels' No. 5 jersey this season.
Pickett is the first player since Daniels left
for the NFL to wear No. 5.
"The Daniels family is deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected by LSU's decision to give Jayden's number to another player," Daniels' spokesperson said in a statement.
Daniels is the only player in Division I FBS history to finish with at least 12,000 passing yards and at least 3,000 rushing yards in a career, recording such a feat in 55 career games, with 29 coming at Arizona State from 2019 to 2021.
Given that Daniels' jersey is not retired by LSU, social media did not hold back from reacting to Thursday's news, with even some tweets taking a shot at Daniels for not being Joe Burrow, referring to how Burrow led one of the best teams ever built in college football history to a national championship at LSU and Daniels didn't.
Social media reacts to Jayden Daniels' cease-and-desist letter to LSU over No. 5 jersey
Here's a snippet of reactions on social media to Daniels' cease-and-desist letter to LSU:
Joe Burrow led a team to a ring and had one of the most historic seasons ever.
— Bud Elliott (@BudElliott3) August 13, 2026
Daniels is such a whiner. Get over yourself https://t.co/nOygLOWrUZ pic.twitter.com/F9TZrHOYUt
This is so weak from Jayden's team. What are you thinking? He's getting horrible advice. He looks like an egotistical brat with this move https://t.co/kPoBweWq03
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) August 13, 2026
Going 9-4 at LSU and losing to Mike Norvell in back-to-back openers ain’t getting you a jersey retirement ceremony
— Graham Coffey (@GrahamCoffeyDC) August 13, 2026
Unless you’re doing Burrow or Newton type stuff you don’t get to transfer in and get treated like that.
Want a legacy? Stay. Can’t have your cake and eat it too https://t.co/nEI3dcL8eI
What a bad look this is. https://t.co/Evgl44t311
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) August 13, 2026
I hate this for lifelong LSU Tiger Jayden Daniels. https://t.co/INuGqQNibW
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) August 13, 2026
I think the Jayden Daniels thing is silly
— Will Rosenblatt (@rozenwill) August 13, 2026
But it’s worth nothing 20 and 9 weren’t worn after Cannon and Burrow’s Heisman wins
Jayden Daniels had a nasty breakup at Arizona State, and was ultimately given a chance to rewrite his story at LSU, which to his credit, he took full advantage of.
— Connor O'Gara (@cjogara) August 13, 2026
Getting lawyers involved over a jersey number is a sign that his camp doesn't understand what "legacy" means.
I love Jayden Daniels. Always will. I’ll always be thankful for the Heisman season and everything he did at LSU.
— Jonah⚜️ (@BuiltinDaBoot) August 13, 2026
But he didn’t win a championship like Joe did, and LSU not retiring No. 5 doesn’t erase anything he accomplished here.
If he’s really willing to tarnish his…
Joe Burrow won a national championship, leading arguably the greatest team of all time to an undefeated season
— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) August 13, 2026
Jayden Daniels went 3-5 against ranked opponents
You are no Joe Burrow https://t.co/MvPV7l6Oy4
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'This is so weak.' Jayden Daniels' cease-and-desist letter to LSU draws plenty of reaction
