Former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels has expressed disappointment after the university assigned his retired jersey number 5 to sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett, a move he described as a breach of the respect he expected for the number’s legacy.
Daniels’ family voiced deep disappointment, saying the decision felt profoundly disrespectful to the player who helped lead LSU to a national championship and earned the number’s retirement in his honor.
The controversy spilled onto social media, where Major League Baseball teams seized the moment to craft tongue‑in‑cheek posts. The Cleveland Guardians tweeted “Won by 5 because we’re not scared of Jayden Daniels,” while the Toronto Blue Jays shared a photo captioned “Scored 4 to honour Jayden Daniels’ 5,” and the Los Angeles Angels added a message stating they would not throw a fifth pitch out of respect for Daniels.
Although the online jabs have faded, the story is poised to regain traction when the Washington Commanders open their season against the Philadelphia Eagles, a matchup that could once again place Daniels in the spotlight.
Beyond the social media flare‑up, Daniels remains celebrated as a Heisman Trophy winner and a pivotal figure in LSU’s recent football successes, a status that made the number’s retirement a widely held expectation among fans and alumni.