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An attorney for Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels sent a cease-and-desist letter to LSU, his alma mater, informing the school it must end any continued use of Daniels’ 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 first reported news of the letter and that the dispute was prompted when the school issued the uniform number Daniels wore there to another player. LSU declined to comment.
The quarterback’s contractual agreement with LSU granted the school a 180-day grace period after its expiration or termination to use Daniels’ likeness, according to the letter from attorney Adam B. Kenner, who wrote “that grace period has long expired.” Kenner cautioned that any additional use by LSU of Daniels’ likeness and image “will be pursued vigorously through all available legal and equitable remedies.”
In a statement to ESPN, attributed to a Daniels family spokesperson, the quarterback’s family said it was “deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected by LSU’s decision to give Jayden’s number to another player.” The statement said the family thought his number “would be honored and protected in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the university.”
The number was given to cornerback DJ Pickett this offseason after he wore No. 3 as a freshman last year. First-year LSU head coach Lane Kiffin told reporters this month that Pickett was promised No. 5 during the recruiting process, when Brian Kelly was the Tigers’ coach. Pickett was a five-star prospect and one of the nation’s top defensive backs. Pickett’s father, Damien, confirmed the story Thursday morning.
“It had nothing to do with Coach Lane,” Damien Pickett said.
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.” Daniels won the Heisman Trophy after the 2023 season. Retiring a jersey “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,” according to the policy. The school has retired the jerseys of four football players; a fifth will be retired this season.
Joe Burrow, who won the Heisman Trophy for LSU after the 2019 season, has also not had his jersey retired by the school, although no player has worn it since. Burrow and the Tigers finished undefeated and won a national championship in the 2019 season.
Asked Thursday if Daniels deserves to have his No. 5 jersey retired, Kelly responded: “Absolutely, and Joe (Burrow), too. As well as players like (former all-American) Glenn Dorsey and a few others. LSU bylaws are preventing deserving players.”
No. 5 is important to the Pickett family, which has produced blue-chip recruits and a first-round pick (former Packers defensive lineman Ryan Pickett). DJ Pickett’s older brother, Jaylen, wore No. 5 in middle school and high school before signing with Eastern Michigan in 2015. DJ Pickett began wearing it when he was 5 years old in the Zephyrhills (Fla.) Athletic League. Cousins and nephews have worn it, as does Damien’s eighth-grade son.
“It’s just been an ongoing thing for our family for years,” his dad said.
Daniels spent three seasons at Arizona State before transferring to LSU before the 2022 season. In his two seasons at LSU, he had 79 touchdowns, second in school history, and still holds the school record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a career and season.
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