Jayden Daniels reportedly asks LSU to stop using his name, image and likeness, and wants his Heisman returned

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has reportedly asked LSU to stop using his name, image and likeness, and the report further says Daniels wants the school to “give back” his Heisman Trophy after another player wears No. 5 for the Tigers. The dispute, described as unfolding Wednesday, appears to be driven by Daniels’ reaction to LSU’s continued use of his image while football branding practices at the school have shifted with new personnel.

Daniels, who earned college football’s highest individual honor during his LSU career, has remained a central figure in the program’s public-facing identity since his departure for the NFL. In this latest development, the friction is not presented as about on-field performance or a current game, but instead about how the LSU brand connects to Daniels’ legacy and whether LSU is complying with Daniels’ expectations around NIL and Heisman-related symbolism.

According to the report, Daniels asked LSU to stop using his name, image and likeness on Wednesday. The same report also claims Daniels is “really, really upset” and that he wants LSU to return his Heisman Trophy “over another player wearing No. 5,” tying the controversy to LSU’s jersey numbering and the visibility of a newer No. 5 on the roster.

The particulars of what LSU has been using Daniels’ likeness for are not detailed in the Yahoo Sports account. What is clear from the way the report is framed is that Daniels views the issue as something that should be corrected by the school, not merely managed through public relations. It also suggests the question is less about Daniels’ personal satisfaction and more about enforceable rights and the boundaries of NIL use.

LSU has not been cited in the account with a public response, and there is no official confirmation in the published report from the league, the school, or Daniels’ representatives. Because the claim is being reported secondhand and presented as a dispute, readers should treat it as unverified until LSU, the Commanders, or Daniels makes a direct statement.

What to watch next is whether LSU clarifies its NIL policies and whether it addresses the report’s specific allegation about returning the Heisman. Another important factor will be whether the “No. 5” reference leads to a broader review of how LSU markets former stars and whether additional terms exist around the continued use of Daniels’ image in promotional materials. Until then, the story remains a high-profile example of how NIL, legacy imagery, and jersey symbolism can collide when a former athlete believes those boundaries are being crossed.