The NFL regular season has not yet begun, but Jayden Daniels is already under scrutiny. The New York Mets joined others online in teasing the Washington Commanders quarterback. This followed Daniels sending a cease-and-desist letter to his alma mater, LSU, regarding the use of his name, image, and likeness.
After defeating the Washington Nationals, a team in the same geographical area as the Commanders, the Mets commented on social media. “Stopped at 4 out of respect for Jayden Daniels,” they wrote, referencing their win.
Daniels, who won the Heisman Trophy with LSU in 2023, reportedly took issue with LSU’s head coach Lane Kiffin allowing DJ Pickett to wear his No. 5 jersey. Daniels shared his thoughts on social media, stating, “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. 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,” Daniels added.
Despite his attempts to defuse the situation, social media continues to react strongly. StubHub, a ticketing platform, jokingly stated it would not sell tickets in sets of five as a nod to Daniels’ number.
As the regular season approaches, Daniels hopes that his challenges remain confined to the field rather than social media.