Commanders’ Daniels Makes Unconventional Agreement to Obtain No. 5 Jersey
It’s not uncommon in the NFL for players to negotiate financial or other arrangements to secure a preferred jersey number.
One memorable instance occurred when Jayden Daniels, the quarterback for the Washington Commanders and the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, sought to acquire the No. 5 jersey, which had been worn by two-time Pro Bowl punter Tress Way since 2014.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the agreement between the two players involved their respective alma maters—Oklahoma for Way and LSU for Daniels.
Schefter shared on X that “Commanders P Tress Way did not want a cash transaction from Jayden Daniels for the No. 5.” Instead, Daniels agreed that once Way concludes his NFL career, he will arrange for Way and his family to attend an Oklahoma-LSU football game with premium seating.
Daniels debuted in the No. 5 jersey on May 10 during the Commanders’ rookie minicamp, a number he has worn since high school and through his college career at Arizona State and LSU.
Way, initially reluctant to part with the jersey number he had worn for the past decade, ultimately decided to accommodate Daniels after discussions with his wife, Brianna. She pointed out that his reluctance was contrary to his role as a team captain in 2023.
“Why do you have the ‘C’ [captaincy] in the first place?” Brianna Way asked her husband.
Brianna Way herself had a successful athletic career, being an All-Big 12 outfielder at Oklahoma in 2013 and earning a place on the Women’s College World Series All-Tournament Team in 2012.
Undrafted out of Oklahoma in 2013, Tress Way faced setbacks before securing a spot on Washington’s roster in 2014, where he has remained for the past decade. Despite the team’s struggles, Way has stood out, earning Pro Bowl selections and NFL All-Pro Team honors in 2019. Throughout his career, he has averaged 46.9 yards per punt and has placed nearly 40 percent of his punts inside the 20-yard line.
Way has yet to decide on his new jersey number, only indicating that it will be an odd number.
