The Jersey Number Drama at LSU: A Simple Guide to the No. 5 Controversy

What’s All the Fuss About?

Imagine you’ve worn the same lucky number on your sports jersey since you were 4 years old. Then you go to college, and the coach promises you can keep wearing it. But there’s a catch—last year’s superstar wore that same number, and his family isn’t happy about you using it.

That’s exactly what’s happening at Louisiana State University (LSU) right now with the No. 5 jersey.

The Main Characters

Person	Role	Their Side of the Story
DJ Pickett	LSU sophomore cornerback	"I’ve worn No. 5 my whole life. It was promised to me when I signed with LSU."
Jayden Daniels	2023 Heisman Trophy winner, now Washington Commanders QB	"I’m disappointed LSU gave away my number. It’s part of my legacy."
Lane Kiffin	Current LSU head coach	"A promise was made to DJ during recruiting. I have to honor that promise."
Brian Kelly	Former LSU head coach (fired Oct 2025)	"I didn’t give DJ the number because Jayden Daniels wasn’t okay with it."
Joe Burrow	Former LSU QB, 2019 Heisman winner, now Cincinnati Bengals star	"LSU told me they wouldn’t let anyone wear my No. 9 again."

How We Got Here: The Timeline

2023 – Jayden Daniels wears No. 5, wins Heisman Trophy at LSU
2024 – Daniels leaves for NFL (drafted #2 by Washington Commanders)
December 2024 – DJ Pickett signs with LSU, promised No. 5 by Coach Brian Kelly
2025 Season – Pickett wears No. 3 as a freshman (named Freshman All-American!)
October 2025 – Coach Kelly fired
August 2026 – New coach Lane Kiffin gives Pickett No. 5 for preseason practice
August 5, 2026 – Daniels’ attorney sends cease-and-desist letter to LSU about using his name/image/likeness
August 13, 2026 – Story breaks publicly, both sides share their feelings

Why This Matters: The Big Picture

IMPORTANT POINT

This isn’t just about a number on a shirt. It’s about promises made to teenagers, college sports traditions, and the new world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights where college athletes can now make money from their personal brand.

Key Issues at Play

Recruiting Promises: Coaches promise things to get players to sign. Should new coaches honor old promises?
Legacy vs. Opportunity: Should a Heisman winner’s number be "protected" even if not officially retired?
NIL Rights: Daniels’ legal team says LSU can’t use his name/image anymore—this is a new legal tool for athletes
Family Feelings: Both families feel disrespected. Pickett’s dad is angry at the old coach; Daniels’ family feels hurt by the school

LSU’s Jersey History: What’s Retired, What’s Not

Officially Retired Numbers (Can Never Be Worn Again)

No. 20 – Billy Cannon (1959 Heisman winner) — Only number with permanent ban per LSU policy
No. 37 – Tommy Casanova
No. 21 – Jerry Stovall
No. 4 – Charles Alexander
No. 7 – Bert Jones (planned retirement Nov. 14, 2026)

"Unofficially Protected" Numbers

No. 9 – Joe Burrow (2019 Heisman, national champ) — Not worn since 2019, Burrow says school told him it won’t be used again
No. 5 – Jayden Daniels (2023 Heisman) — Now at center of controversy

What Each Side Is Saying

DJ Pickett & His Family

"I’ve worn No. 5 since I was 4" — it’s his lifelong number
Promised during recruiting by Coach Kelly
Dad Damien: "Coach Kiffin honored the promise. My anger is at Kelly for not being honest upfront."
Agent Brian Davis: Won’t discuss Pickett’s NIL deal details

Jayden Daniels & His Family

"Deeply disappointed and profoundly disrespected" — official family statement
Believed number would be "honored and protected" as part of his legacy
Sent legal letter saying LSU can’t use his NIL rights
Daniels himself: "Focused on Commanders football. Hope this gets resolved privately."

Coach Lane Kiffin

"When a kid is promised something to come to a school, he should wear it."
Did research, confirmed promise was made
"Not my decision to judge what happened before I got here."

Former Coach Brian Kelly

Admits he believed No. 5 was promised to Pickett
Didn’t issue it because Daniels "wasn’t on board"
Comparison: "We didn’t issue No. 9 [Burrow], so you can’t treat one differently"

The Bigger Questions This Raises

1. What Counts as a "Retired" Number?

LSU has only 5 officially retired numbers (with one pending). Many schools retire numbers for Heisman winners automatically. LSU doesn’t—unless they make a special decision.

2. Can a College Stop Using a Former Player’s Name/Image?

Yes! Thanks to new NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) rules, former college athletes now have legal control over their personal brand. Daniels’ cease-and-desist letter is a real legal tool—not just a complaint.

3. Who Decides: The Old Coach or the New Coach?

Old coach (Kelly): Made promise, then didn’t keep it
New coach (Kiffin): Says "a promise is a promise"
The player (Pickett): Caught in the middle

Summary: What You Need to Know

TL;DR – The Quick Version

DJ Pickett (LSU player) was promised No. 5 when he signed

Jayden Daniels (former LSU star, 2023 Heisman winner) wore No. 5 and doesn’t want anyone else wearing it

New coach Lane Kiffin gave Pickett the number, honoring the promise

Daniels’ family sent a legal letter saying LSU can’t use his name/image anymore

Joe Burrow’s No. 9 hasn’t been worn since 2019—he says school told him it won’t be

Only 4 numbers are officially retired at LSU; No. 5 isn’t one of them

Both families are hurt—this is emotional, not just business

Daniels says he’s focused on the NFL and wants it handled privately

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

Has LSU officially retired Jayden Daniels’ No. 5?

No. LSU has only retired 4 numbers in its history (with a 5th planned for November). Daniels’ No. 5 is not officially retired, though his family believes it should be treated as special.

What is a "cease-and-desist letter" and why does it matter?

It’s a formal legal notice telling someone to stop doing something. Daniels’ lawyers say LSU can no longer use his name, image, or likeness (NIL) for promotion, marketing, or merchandise. This is a new power college athletes have since NIL rules changed in 2021.

Why did DJ Pickett wear No. 3 last year if he was promised No. 5?

Former coach Brian Kelly didn’t give him No. 5 because Jayden Daniels "wasn’t on board." Pickett wore No. 3 as a freshman and had a great season (Freshman All-American, 3 interceptions).

Is Joe Burrow’s No. 9 officially retired?

No. But Burrow says LSU told him they wouldn’t issue it again. It hasn’t been worn since 2019. The difference? Burrow’s number has a verbal commitment from the school; Daniels’ number has a promise to a current player.

Can this be resolved without going to court?

Yes, and both sides seem to want that. Daniels said he hopes it’s "resolved privately." Kiffin says he’s honoring a promise. The school hasn’t commented publicly. Most likely: lawyers talk, a compromise is reached, and the season moves on.

Final Thought

College football is full of traditions, promises, and legacies. But it’s also a place where 18-year-olds make life-changing decisions based on what coaches tell them. When those promises clash with a superstar’s legacy, there are no easy answers—just people on all sides trying to do what they think is right.

What do you think? Should a promised number be honored? Should a Heisman winner’s number be untouchable? There’s no rulebook for this one—just competing values in a changing sport.

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