By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
One LSU Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback’s number is unofficially retired; the other’s is not.
2019 Heisman winner Joe Burrow weighed in on the fallout from Jayden Daniels’ No. 5 jersey being reissued to sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett. After the Cincinnati Bengals’ preseason opener versus the Lions Thursday night, Burrow was asked if there have ever been any conversations about another LSU player wearing his No. 9.
“They told me that they wouldn’t use it again, but you never know what happens,” Burrow said.
Burrow said he just heard about the controversial cease-and-desist Daniels’ attorney sent to LSU after the Washington Commanders quarterback felt disrespected that another player received the No. 5. The letter requests the school stop using his name, image and likeness.
“I don’t know too much about it,” he said. “I just heard about it a couple hours ago. I don’t necessarily have too many thoughts at this time. I just don’t know enough about the situation to have any thoughts I would say.”
Before Pickett, no other player had worn No. 5 since Daniels won the Heisman in 2023. That has been the unofficial rule for LSU’s three Heisman winners. Billy Cannon’s jersey is officially retired, and the No. 20 was not given out to anyone else following his 1959 Heisman season. Burrow and Daniels are still waiting on official retirements due to the university’s policy that athletes must be five years removed from competition to receive the honor, but the No. 5 and No. 9 jerseys received the same treatment prior to this fall.
Daniels said in a social media post Thursday that he was focused on Commanders’ training camp and hoped the situation between LSU and his team could be resolved privately. The same seems to be true for Burrow who was coming off of his brief preseason debut.
Burrow played the first quarter of the 16-14 Bengals win. He took 13 snaps in two drives and completed five of six passing attempts for 39 yards. His longest completion came on a 16-yard connection with LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase on his first throw of the game.
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