Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has instructed LSU to stop using his name, image and likeness, according to the Associated Press. The move follows LSU’s decision to allow cornerback D.J. Pickett to wear No. 5, the number Daniels carried during his two seasons with the Tigers.
A spokesperson for Daniels told ESPN that the quarterback had made his wishes clear and believed the school would respect them. The statement described the decision to reassign the number as deeply disappointing, saying it felt like a failure to honour what Daniels achieved at LSU during his Heisman Trophy-winning 2023 campaign.
Why LSU Gave the Number Away
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin explained that Pickett, a 6-foot-5 cornerback who recorded three interceptions as a freshman, was promised the right to wear No. 5 when he signed with the programme in December 2024 under then-coach Brian Kelly. Kiffin, who was hired after Kelly was fired in October 2025, said the commitment made to the recruit should be honoured regardless of the circumstances. No. 5 had not been worn by any Tiger since Daniels left, but the jersey was never officially retired.
The Burrow Comparison at the Centre of the Dispute
According to Pro Football Network, sources told ESPN that Daniels feels he is being treated differently from former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, whose No. 9 jersey has remained unused since his 2019 national championship season. Daniels himself has not made that comparison publicly, but it has driven much of the reaction to the story.
CBS Sports analyst Bud Elliott pushed back sharply on the parallel. Writing on X, Elliott called Daniels a whiner and said he should get over himself, pointing out that Burrow led LSU to a perfect 15-0 season and a national title. The statistical gap between the two is considerable: Burrow threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns that year, setting records across the FBS. Daniels, for his part, set LSU’s single-season record for quarterback rushing yards (1,134) and rushing touchdowns (10) and posted an FBS-record passer rating of 208.0 in 2023.
Differing Records, Same Programme
Both quarterbacks started two seasons for the Tigers, but Burrow’s undefeated title run gives him a legacy that Daniels, despite his individual honours, cannot yet match at the college level. Daniels won the Heisman and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year award in 2023, taking home virtually every major collegiate quarterback prize that season. Online reaction has been mixed, with some fans arguing that individual accolades alone are not a sufficient basis for jersey retirement, pointing to LSU legends like Billy Cannon, who led the Tigers to an unbeaten national championship season in 1958.
Daniels is currently preparing for the 2026 NFL season after injuries disrupted his second year with Washington. He delivered what many considered the finest rookie quarterback campaign in league history in 2024, winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, and is aiming to return to that level this season.
