Joe Burrow says LSU told him it wouldn’t use his No. 9 jersey again

With Jayden Daniels in a dispute with LSU that reportedly stems from the use of his former jersey number, another Heisman Trophy-winning Tigers quarterback, Joe Burrow, said he had been told that the team would not use his No. 9 jersey again.

“They told me that they wouldn’t use it again, but you never know what happens,” Burrow told reporters after the Cincinnati Bengals’ 16-14 win over the Detroit Lions in their preseason opener Thursday.

Burrow, who led LSU to an undefeated season and a national title in 2019, wore No. 9 for two seasons before being drafted by the Bengals. No LSU player has worn it since.

Daniels, now the quarterback for the Washington Commanders, sent LSU a letter from his lawyers demanding that the Tigers end any use of his name, image and likeness. The cease-and-desist letter, which was issued to LSU vice president and athletic director Verge Ausberry on Aug. 5 and obtained by The Athletic, alleges, without providing specific instances, that the school has used Daniels’ NIL past its authorization date.

ESPN reported, based on a statement it received from a family spokesperson, that the dispute began when LSU issued the No. 5 Daniels wore there to another player, cornerback DJ Pickett. LSU has declined to comment. Daniels won the Heisman Trophy after the 2023 season and holds LSU records for career and season rushing yards by a quarterback.

When asked about the situation with Daniels, Burrows demurred.

“I don’t necessarily have too many thoughts at this time,” Burrow said. “I just heard about it a couple of hours ago. I don’t know enough about the situation to have any thoughts.”

LSU’s protocol for retiring jerseys requires the honoree to be five years removed from college competition and to have recorded “unique” performances, “such as winning of a Heisman Trophy or National Player of the Year award.”