Sports

Brian Kelly Blames Joe Burrow For Walking Back Jersey Promise As Jayden Daniels’ Replacement Refuses Surrender

by Last Updated

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Brian Kelly has not commented on the drama between Jayden Daniels and LSU.


Jayden Daniels is upset with LSU for allowing DJ Pickett to wear his No. 5 jersey number. He’s sent the school cease and desist letters in attempts to bar the Tigers from using his name, image, and likeness.

The drama was ignited by a promise Brian Kelly made to Pickett during his recruitment. The coach explained his reasoning for walking back his vow after landing a commitment.

New details continue to surface surrounding Daniels’ unhappiness. Pickett and his family won’t budge.

Jayden Daniels won’t give up jersey number quietly.

The quarterback won the Heisman in Baton Rouge in 2023 while leading the Tigers to the SEC Championship. He expected his number to be “protected” by the university.

You can imagine his dismay when Lane Kiffin told media members of a jersey change for Freshman All-American DJ Pickett. The defensive back wore No. 3 as a rookie. He will wear No. 5 as a sophomore.

Why? A promise was made. He intends to keep it.

“DJ is in 5. That was a situation that was promised to him in recruiting here, for him to sign here,” Kiffin said. “When a kid is promised something to come to a school, he should wear it.”

That promise was not made by Kiffin. Instead, it was given by his predecessor, Kelly.

Pickett was a five-star recruit in the 2025 cycle. He chose LSU over offers from his hometown Florida programs, as well as Georgia, Oregon, Alabama, Ohio State, and more.

To help sway Pickett to Baton Rouge, Kelly told him that he could have No. 5, the number that he wore at Zephyrhills High School. Kelly did not keep that promise out of respect for Jayden Daniels.

Kelly reportedly spoke to Daniels. The quarterback was unwilling to give up his jersey number. As a result, Pickett wore No. 3 in 2025.

That will change in ’26. Daniels is not happy. He refuses to let LSU use his name, image, and likeness moving forward. He also wants his Heisman back.

Brian Kelly has been relatively silent.

The coach’s X timeline has provided no response to the situation. His most recent repost came on July 27. His Instagram account has not been updated, either. No public appearance has been made.

 

View this profile on Instagram

 

Brian Kelly (@headcoachbriankelly) • Instagram photos and videos

Kelly did provide a brief statement to ESPN about why he didn’t allow Pickett to wear the number last year.

“I just wasn’t prepared to do it until we got a full commitment from another Heisman Trophy winner. We didn’t want to issue No. 9, so you can’t treat one differently from the other.”

Brian Kelly made the promise. He didn’t honor it the following season, referencing (blaming) Joe Burrow and a lack of commitment to allow No. 9 to be recirculated.

That shouldn’t rid Kelly of blame. He should’ve gotten confirmation up front. Now, Lane Kiffin has been left to pick up the pieces.

DJ Pickett has no plans to concede.

DJ Pickett will wear No. 5.

His dad shares that outlook.

“Honestly, man, this right here makes us want to wear the number more,” Damien Pickett said of the jersey drama. “LSU has not said anything to us about the number, about us being able to wear the number. Coach (Lane Kiffin) has been in full support of my son through this process.

“It’s not really pertaining to my son, but he’s been put in the middle of something that has nothing to do with him,” he continued. “My boy’s been wearing No. 5 his whole life.”

The Pickett family blames Kelly for the debacle.

“If we would have been told during our recruiting process and they had said, ‘Hey, No. 5 is not being issued. We can’t promise you No. 5, but we can talk to Jayden and see what Jayden has to say. If he gives his blessing, he does. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t,’ (we would have) moved forward.’ If we were to have had a situation like that, it probably would not have blown up like this.”

-Damien Pickett

The situation could’ve been avoided. Brian Kelly’s actions created a controversy. It will be interesting to see if he has any further commentary on the drama. Regardless, DJ Pickett fully intends to wear Jayden Daniels’ jersey number moving forward.