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In the college football world of NIL deals, top recruits can ask for just about anything these days. Cash, cars, custom gear. But there’s one thing even the most elite five-star prospect can’t get at USC: Matt Leinart’s No. 11 jersey.
The 2004 Heisman Trophy winner isn’t budging on this one.
“When I was at USC, I got my number retired,” Leinart said on his podcast last week. “You win the Heisman Trophy, automatic retired number, which is pretty cool. So, our jerseys are hanging in the Coliseum on one side.”
USC has come to him multiple times over the years. Five-star recruits wanting that number. The program asking if he’d consider unretiring it.
His answer’s been the same every time.
“There’s been multiple times where people at USC have asked me if I would unretire my jersey for some five-star prospect,” Leinart said. “And do you want to know what I told those guys straight up? I said, ‘Absolutely f—ing not.’ I am never going to unretire my jersey for some random dude who, by the way, now could wear No. 11 and transfer after a year.”
The Transfer Portal Changes Everything
That last part stings because it’s true. In today’s college football landscape, even the biggest recruits might stick around for a season or two before hitting the transfer portal. Leinart’s not about to let his legacy get tied to someone who might be gone before their sophomore year ends.
Carson Palmer took a different approach. The fellow Trojans Heisman winner let Jordan Addison wear his No. 3 jersey. But Leinart’s drawing a hard line with his number.
There are only three exceptions: his sons.
Cole Leinart is currently a freshman quarterback at SMU. If he transfers to USC, he can wear it. Same goes for Leinart’s two younger boys if they end up suiting up for the Trojans down the road. That’s it. Nobody else.
Leinart actually mentioned a story from a couple years back. His son Cole told him about a linebacker headed to USC who wanted No. 11 and asked if it was possible. Leinart laughed at the memory, but the answer was never in doubt.
“The only person that will ever wear my USC No. 11 would be Cole, who’s not there right now, he’s at SMU. Or two of my boys if they end up going to USC and playing football. That is it,” Leinart said.
Not Even NIL Money Could Change His Mind
When asked if a player with a massive NIL deal offered him cash for the jersey, Leinart didn’t hesitate.
“Absolutely not. Would never do it,” Leinart said. “… It’s not for sale. And that kid, chances of him staying at USC after two years is slim anyway. It ain’t happening, bro. I’m keeping that up there forever. And you can call me selfish — I don’t give a s—.”
It’s hard to argue with his reasoning. Leinart led USC to back-to-back national championships in 2003 and 2004, then came within one play of a third title in 2005 before falling to Texas in the Rose Bowl. Over three seasons as the starter, he threw for 10,693 yards and 99 touchdowns while losing only two games.
Those numbers earned him a spot alongside USC’s all-time greats. His No. 11 now hangs in the Coliseum’s Peristyle with Palmer’s No. 3, Reggie Bush’s No. 5, Charles White’s No. 12, Caleb Williams’ No. 13, Mike Garrett’s No. 20, O.J. Simpson’s No. 32 and Marcus Allen’s No. 33.
That’s the kind of company you don’t share lightly, NIL era or not.
