Jayden Daniels addresses LSU situation publicly for the first time: 'I said everything I had to say within the statement'

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels spoke about the situation with LSU publicly for the first time on Saturday.

Daniels was asked how he was dealing with the fallout, and the quarterback made sure everyone knew his focus was on the upcoming NFL season.

"I posted that statement, it's out. For me now, it's really just focusing on Commander football.

I said everything I had to say within the statement, and now it's just getting ready Week 1."

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The statement to which he alluded was a cease-and-desist letter he sent to LSU regarding a current Tigers player wearing No. 5, the number Daniels wore when he won the Heisman Trophy in 2023.

"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.

Jayden made it clear that he did not want his number given to another player, and he believed his wishes would be respected.

His Heisman Trophy-winning season and everything he accomplished on and off the field cemented his place in LSU history. To see his number given to another player is incredibly disappointing and feels like a failure to honor the significance of what Jayden accomplished at LSU."

The statement also included a section from Daniels' lawyer, Adam Kenner.

Accordingly, LSU must immediately cease and desist from any further issue use, display, publication, distribution, promotion, commercialization, or other exploitation of Mr. Daniels' NIL in any manner or medium.

Any use of Mr. Daniels' NIL occurring after LSU's receipt of this notice will be deemed knowing and willful and will be pursued vigorously through all available legal and equitable remedies, without further notice."

Since Daniels left LSU for the NFL following the 2023 season, no player has worn No. 5 for the program. It was not officially retired, but it's clear that Daniels was not expecting anyone to wear the number so soon after he left.

Sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett is the new No. 5 for the Tigers. New head coach Lane Kiffin said that Pickett had been promised that he could wear No. 5 when he signed with LSU in December 2024.

"DJ is in [No.] 5, and that was a situation that was promised to him in recruiting here, for him to sign here. I've done a lot of research on that with the family and the representatives and the people, so really I didn't have a decision to make. It was promised to the kid. It wasn't done for whatever [reason]. I'm not going to get into that.

I'm not going to judge something [that was done] when I wasn't here. But when a kid is promised something to come to a school, he should wear it. So at that point, I don't think that's really my decision. We should honor what he was told."

Pickett wore No. 3 last season during his freshman year. He had three interceptions and 37 combined tackles. Pickett wore No. 5 during his high school career.