Sports

Jayden Daniels Throws Fit For Broken Promise That LSU Never Made

#LSU Tigers
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Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

DJ Pickett will wear No. 5 at LSU for the first time since Jayden Daniels.


The LSU Tigers may no longer use Jayden Daniels’ name, image, and likeness when promoting the football program. The Heisman winning quarterback sent the school a cease and desist over a jersey number drama unfolding this offseason.

Another Tiger will wear No. 5 in the upcoming season. Daniels’ camp feels disrespected. He is cutting ties with the university over a promise that was never given.

Daniels won the Heisman trophy in the 2023 season. No player has worn No. 5 since. That will change in 2026 due to a vow made by former head coach Brian Kelly.

DJ Pickett is changing numbers.

The former five-star defensive back wore No. 3 as a freshman. He’ll swap it out for No. 5 as a sophomore. Lane Kiffin opened up on the jersey switch earlier this month.

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

Pickett was one of the top high school players in the 2025 recruiting class. He spurned hometown programs Miami, Florida, and FSU to sign with the Tigers. A promise made by the then-head coach might’ve played a role.

The cornerback donned No. 5 at Zephyrhills High School in Tampa. He was reportedly told that he’d be able to keep the number in Baton Rouge.

For one reason or another, he did not rep the jersey in Year 1. Kelly was then fired, making it unclear whether the recruiting vow would be honored. Kiffin spoke to those close to the situation. He opted to allow the change.

Jayden Daniels drops LSU.

According to ESPN, the quarterback sent a cease and desist to the university informing the Tigers they can no longer use his name, image, and likeness.

“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.”

-Statement from Jayden Daniels and family

Daniels feels disrespected. He’s responding by no longer allowing LSU to profit off his name.

Disappointment aside, this was always a possibility. LSU does not retire numbers. Only one number is off the table for roster members, Billy Cannon’s No. 20.

Under a provision of the LSU jersey retirement bylaws established Jan. 1, 2007, the retirement of an athlete’s jersey in a particular sport 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. This provision applies only to jerseys retired after January 1, 2007.

Daniels said he believed his number would be “protected.” That promise has not been given to any player since 2007.

LSU does retire jerseys as a way of honoring former players. Jayden Daniels would likely be included in that bunch as one of three Heisman trophy winners in school history.

Daniels apparently “made it clear” that he did not want another player to have No. 5. That demand goes against athletic department policy.

No. 5 was never off-limits. It will now be worn by a freshman All-American. Jayden Daniels is unhappy with a broken promise that was never given.