Former USC great and Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart made it clear this week that his legendary No. 11 jersey will stay retired unless someone very specific earns the right to wear it again. The longtime college football star, who shone at the University of Southern California before a professional NFL career and now serves as a media personality, was faced with a request from his alma mater and offered a firm response.
Leinart’s No. 11 jersey has been hanging in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum among the honored numbers of past Trojans for years. The school’s tradition of retiring jersey numbers recognizes players who made an extraordinary impact, and Leinart’s career at USC certainly fit that bill. He enjoyed one of the most decorated stretches in program history, leading his team to back‑to‑back AP national championships in 2003 and 2004 and winning college football’s highest individual honor in 2004. .
According to Athlon Sports, alongside his refusal to allow the number back onto the field, Leinart explained why he felt strongly about keeping his No. 11 retired. Speaking on his “Throwbacks” podcast, he noted that while other former players have granted such requests in the past, he isn’t willing to do the same. He pointed to changes in college football that make him hesitant to simply hand the honor to someone else.
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Leinart Defends Himself
In his words, “I am never going to unretire my jersey for some random dude… By the way, now could wear No. 11 and transfer after a year.” Leinart also noted that the retirement of his number was tied specifically to his achievements at USC, including the automatic honor that comes with winning the Heisman Trophy and helping bring championships to the program. In his mind, that legacy deserves to be protected unless someone has an equally meaningful connection to the Trojans.
Even though he rejected the idea for recruits, Leinart did acknowledge one potential exception to his stance: his own sons. He has made it clear that if one of his boys decides to play football at USC, wearing No. 11 could be considered. For now, however, his eldest son Cole is playing quarterback at SMU, so none of them currently suit up for the Trojans.
That sentiment was evident when Leinart explained that the only people who might ever wear that number again would be one of his sons if they joined the USC football program. For everyone else, he said the number remains off‑limits.
Apart from the preservation of his legacy within the Coliseum, Leinart’s broader relationship with USC football remains shaped by both respect for the program’s history and a sharp understanding of today’s college game. While he rebuffed this particular idea from USC’s leadership, it reflects how seriously he takes the traditions he helped build.
Published: Mar 18, 2026 01:20 pm