Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has faced heavy criticism for trying to protect the legacy of his iconic No. 5 jersey at LSU. The controversy has even turned him into an internet meme, with the latest jab coming from Major League Baseball’s New York Mets.
Jayden Daniels Becomes Mets’ Latest Punchline After LSU Drama Escalates
Daniels has become the target of heavy criticism after reports emerged that he directed his attorney to LSU to stop using his name, image, and likeness following the school’s decision to award his former No. 5 jersey to D.J. Pickett.
According to Daniels’ camp, the legal action is not about the jersey number itself or about Pickett wearing it, but rather about what they view as a lack of respect and how LSU handled the process.
Though no LSU player had worn No. 5 since Daniels left for the NFL, the program never officially retired the jersey. ESPN also reported that Daniels believes he has been treated differently than Joe Burrow, whose No. 9 has remained untouched since the 2019 national championship season.
Since then, Daniels has become the subject of countless memes, and the Mets also joined in following their 4-1 win over the Washington Nationals on Friday night.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s FREE NFL Mock Draft Simulator
“Stopped at 4 out of respect for Jayden Daniels #LGM #MetsWin,” posted by the Mets’ official page.
Stopped at 4 out of respect for Jayden Daniels #LGM #MetsWin pic.twitter.com/t0blh86TNM
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 15, 2026
The situation escalated later when LSU insider Matt Moscona reported that Daniels’ representatives also want the program to return its copy of his Heisman Trophy. However, it is a request LSU reportedly has no intention of honoring.
PREDICT THE NFL SEASON: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Daniels is said to have reached out to LSU officials before fall camp, and new Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin has personally spoken with him. Kiffin recently explained that Pickett had been promised the opportunity to wear No. 5 during his recruitment to LSU in 2024.
At the time, Brian Kelly was LSU’s head coach before being fired midway through the 2025 season. Pickett also later confirmed that No. 5 was the number he had been promised throughout the recruiting process.
Meanwhile, Kelly told ESPN that Pickett was indeed guaranteed the jersey during recruitment, but he initially delayed giving it to him because Daniels did not approve of another player wearing his former number.
Despite the ongoing controversy, it does little to diminish Daniels’ phenomenal legacy at LSU. In 2023, he won the Heisman Trophy after throwing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns while adding 1,134 rushing yards and 10 more scores on the ground. That outstanding season also earned him the No. 1 spot in PFN’s CFB QB Impact rankings with a 99.4 grade.
