Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels’ cease-and-desist letter to LSU earlier this month over the use of his name, image and likeness completely backfired – at least in the eyes of football fans.
Daniels was taking a stand after what he viewed as a “disrespectful” move allowing current Tigers cornerback DJ Pickett to wear his No. 5, the number he wore at LSU, heading into the 2026 college season.
What transpired after releasing a statement on Instagram about why he filed the cease-and-desist letter against LSU ultimately backfired into a tsunami of social media trolling.
Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders looks on before a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., on Aug. 14, 2026. (Getty Images)
The New York Mets, StubHub, Columbia’s football social page, and many more trolled Daniels with their own version of “respect” for the dual-threat quarterback. The Mets posted a final score of a victory against the Washington Nationals, which finished 4-1, saying, “Stopped at 4 out of respect for Jayden Daniels.”
For StubHub, the ticket marketplace jokingly posted “we will no longer offer tickets in groups of 5. Out of respect for Jayden Daniels…”
Thousands of other social media users did the same, and Daniels himself hadn’t spoken to the media to give his reaction. At the end of his press conference on Wednesday following a joint practice against the Baltimore Ravens, Daniels’ final question was about the cease-and-desist letter and whether he had anything else to say.
“I posted the statement on Instagram and said everything I needed to say. So, appreciate y’all,” Daniels replied, deflecting any sort of additional comment on the matter.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
The move has simply blown up in his face and created a whirlwind of finger-pointing and trolling on social media. But while it’s not ideal heading into a season with that sort of distraction on the outside, Daniels has appeared calm and collected as he prepares for a new year.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels throws during warmups before an NFL football divisional playoff game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Daniels noted being “locked in on training camp” in his statement regarding the cease-and-desist letter to LSU. But he still feels slighted by his former team that he won a Heisman Trophy with before heading to the NFL.
“I have been locked in on training camp and that’s been my number one focus. I have a lot of gratitude for my time at LSU and I’m proud of what my teammates and I accomplished there,” Daniels posted. “Obviously there are issues to be worked out between my team and LSU and my hope is that it will get done privately.
“My sole personal focus is on Commanders’ football. I realize the business of football is unique and I trust this can all be resolved.”
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Daniels is hoping that him and his No. 5 Commanders jersey is on the field for the entirety of the 2026 NFL season after injuries took a toll in his sophomore campaign.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders holds the 2023 Heisman Memorial Trophy he won as a member of the LSU Tigers before the Vegas Kickoff Classic between LSU and USC at Allegiant Stadium on Sept. 1, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nev. (Getty Images)
Daniels was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024, leading the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game in shocking fashion after defeating the Detroit Lions on the road in the Divisional Round. But he only participated in seven games last year as the Commanders were unable to make it back to the playoffs.