Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has demanded his alma mater stop using his name, image, and likeness (NIL).
A lawyer representing the quarterback sent a cease-and-desist letter to the LSU athletic department last week. The letter coincides with a controversy over the team's decision to award jersey number 5 to sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett. Daniels played two years at LSU, winning the Heisman Trophy in the 2023 season.
"We have been informed that Louisiana State University (LSU), including its athletics department, coaches, affiliated personnel, vendors, licensees, and/or other persons or entities acting at LSU’s direction or for its benefit, continues to use Mr. Daniels’ NIL notwithstanding the expiration of the contractual period during which LSU was authorized to do so," the letter from law firm says.
"Specifically, the agreement Mr. Daniels entered into with LSU and/or its Athletics Compliance Office provided LSU with, at most, a limited one-hundred-eighty (180) day post-termination or post-expiration grace period for the continued use of Mr. Daniels’ NIL. That grace period has long expired."
The letter demands that LSU immediately cease using Daniels's NIL for any purpose, including in connection with his individual accomplishments while with the Tigers, especially his Heisman Trophy. The letter orders the athletics department to preserve all its records relating to Daniels' NIL and to stop using his NIL in any public-facing materials, under threat of litigation.
"Jayden made it clear that he did not want his number given to another player, and he believed his wishes would be respected," the statement said. "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."
But Kiffin said the number had been promised to Pickett during his recruitment; he had spoken with Pickett's family and representatives, and it was set in stone.
"I didn't have a decision to make," he said last week. "It was promised to the kid. It wasn't done for whatever... But when a kid's promised something to come to a school, he should wear it. And so at that point, I don't really think that's my decision. [He] should be honored what he was told."
Kiffin stood by his statement in his press conference Thursday.
Pickett also addressed the situation on the same day.
"I wore the number my whole life, since I was four years old," he said. "It's a number I was promised, and I wish Jayden the best. Good player, and he did real good here. So that's all."
"I have been locked in on training camp and that's been my number one focus," he said. "I have a lot of gratitude for my time at LSU and I’m proud of what my teammates and I accomplished there. Obviously there are issues to be worked out between my team and LSU and my hope is that it will get done privately. My sole personal focus is on Commanders’ football. I realize the business of football is unique and I trust this can all be resolved."
Daniels played his final two seasons in Baton Rouge after transferring from Arizona State. In his fifth-year season, he won the Heisman Trophy and led the Tigers to the ReliaQuest Bowl; he did not play in that game in order to prepare for the 2024 NFL Draft.
The policy also explicitly disclaims that all jersey numbers retired after 2007 "does not preclude a current student-athlete in that sport from wearing the jersey number in that or any other sport, subject to the discretion of the head coach."
The only jerseys exempt from this rule are basketball legends “Pistol” Pete Maravich, Bob Pettit, and Shaquille O’Neal; football great Billy Cannon; and former player and athletic director Skip Bertman.
The football team has two legacy numbers: No. 7 is typically awarded to the team’s most elite playmaker on either side of the ball. The tradition was established by cornerback Patrick Peterson and has since been worn by defensive back Tyrann Mathieu; running back Leonard Fournette; wide receivers DJ Chark and Ja’Marr Chase; safety Grant Delpit; cornerback Derek Stingley, Jr.; linebacker Harold Perkins, Jr.; and left tackle Will Campbell, who wore it as a patch due to NCAA number rules. The No. 7 was originally worn by College Football Hall of Fame quarterback Bert Jones, and is scheduled to be ceremonially retired this season.
Likewise, the No. 18 jersey has come to symbolize on-field success since quarterback Matt Mauck led the Tigers to a national championship in 2003. Notable players to have worn 18 include Mauck, fullback Jacob Hester, defensive tackle Bennie Logan, CB Tre’Davious White, center Lloyd Cushenberry (patch), linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson, and most recently, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.
And while it has not yet been retired, no player has been awarded No. 9 since Joe Burrow won both the Heisman and a National Championship in 2020.