Josh Jacobs

Josh Jacobs Bio

Joshua Cordell Jacobs (born February 11, 1998) is an American professional football running back for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). Selected by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Jacobs has established himself as one of the premier running backs in professional football. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he helped win a national championship before embarking on his NFL career. After five seasons with the Raiders organization, Jacobs signed with the Packers in March 2024.

Early Life and Background

Jacobs was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and attended McLain High School, where he played football for the Titans. During his high school career, he accumulated 5,372 rushing yards and 56 touchdowns, demonstrating the elite production that would characterize his collegiate and professional career. His athletic prowess was evident early, and his performance at McLain earned him recognition as one of the top high school prospects in Oklahoma.

Jacobs faced significant hardship during his formative years, experiencing homelessness during middle school. This challenging period shaped his resilience and work ethic, attributes that would later define his football career. At the conclusion of his rookie NFL season, Jacobs was featured in a Kia commercial during Super Bowl LIV that reflected on his experience with homelessness, bringing national attention to his inspirational journey.

Path to the NFL

Jacobs committed to play college football at the University of Alabama, joining one of the premier football programs in the nation. As a freshman in 2016, he split time with Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough, rushing 85 times for 567 yards and four touchdowns. His sophomore season in 2017 saw him contribute 284 yards on 46 carries with one touchdown, and he played through a broken ankle for much of that campaign. His perseverance through injury highlighted his toughness and dedication to the team.

As a junior in 2018, Jacobs delivered a standout performance in the SEC Championship Game against the Georgia Bulldogs, earning MVP honors after rushing for 83 yards and two touchdowns. That season, Alabama captured the CFP national championship, with Jacobs contributing to the title run. His collegiate career demonstrated steady improvement and the ability to perform in high-pressure situations, positioning him as an attractive prospect for NFL teams.

Josh Jacobs Career

Oakland Raiders (2019–2023)

The Oakland Raiders selected Jacobs in the first round with the 24th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. The selection came via a pick acquired from the Chicago Bears in the September 2018 Khalil Mack trade. Jacobs signed his four-year rookie contract on July 9, 2019, officially beginning his professional career.

Jacobs made an immediate impact during his rookie season. He debuted in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, rushing 23 times for 85 yards and two touchdowns while catching one pass for 28 yards in the 24–16 victory. Throughout the season, he continued to display his dual-threat ability, including a 26-carry, 123-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Chicago Bears at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. By Week 13, Jacobs became the first running back in Raiders history to rush for 1,000 yards in a rookie season, despite missing three of the last four games due to a shoulder injury and skin infection. He finished 2019 with 1,150 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns, earning PFWA All-Rookie Team honors and being named the PFWA Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Las Vegas Raiders Breakthrough (2020–2022)

The 2020 season saw Jacobs build on his rookie success with another 1,000-yard campaign. He posted 273 carries for 1,065 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, complemented by 33 receptions for 238 receiving yards. His performance earned him his first Pro Bowl selection. He also became the franchise leader in rushing yards through his first two seasons, cementing his status as the Raiders’ offensive centerpiece.

Jacobs continued his production through the 2021 season, finishing with 217 carries for 872 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns, along with 54 receptions for 348 receiving yards. In the Wild Card Round against the Cincinnati Bengals, he contributed 127 scrimmage yards in the 26–19 loss. His consistency and availability remained trademarks of his game.

The 2022 season marked the pinnacle of his Raiders tenure. Jacobs led the NFL with 1,653 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns on 340 attempts, adding 53 receptions for 400 receiving yards. His signature performance came in Week 14 against the Seattle Seahawks, where he rushed for 229 yards and had 74 receiving yards, finishing with 303 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in a 40–34 overtime victory that included an 86-yard walk-off touchdown. For that performance, he won AFC Offensive Player of the Week. Jacobs became the first player in franchise history to reach 2,000 scrimmage yards since Marcus Allen in 1985. He was named First-team All-Pro, earned Pro Bowl honors, and was ranked 12th in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023. On February 9, 2023, Jacobs received the NFL’s Jim Brown Award at NFL Honors.

Green Bay Packers Era (2024–Present)

On March 14, 2024, Jacobs signed a four-year, $48 million contract with the Green Bay Packers, marking a new chapter in his career. His debut season with the Packers proved successful as he became the featured back in their offense. In Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts, he carried the ball 32 times for 151 yards in the 16–10 victory. He recorded his first career touchdown reception in Week 7 against the Houston Texans and continued his dual-threat production throughout the season.

Jacobs enjoyed a standout 2024 campaign, finishing with 301 carries for 1,329 rushing yards and a career-high 15 rushing touchdowns, along with 36 receptions for 342 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. He earned Pro Bowl selection for his performance. In the Wild Card Round against the Philadelphia Eagles, he contributed 121 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown in the 22–10 loss. He was ranked 33rd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025.

Running Style and Strengths

Jacobs possesses a physical, downhill running style characterized by exceptional contact balance and elite burst through the line of scrimmage. His ability to break tackles and gain yards after contact makes him a nightmare for defensive coordinators. He combines his bruising interior running with reliable hands out of the backfield, allowing him to contribute significantly as a receiver. His vision and patience enable him to find creases in the defense, while his breakaway speed provides game-changing potential on any carry.

Notable Events and Milestones

Jacobs set the Raiders franchise record for rushing yards in a rookie season with 1,150 yards. His 229-yard performance against the Seattle Seahawks in 2022 stands as a single-game franchise record. He became the first Raiders running back since Marcus Allen in 1985 to surpass 2,000 scrimmage yards in a season. His 86-yard overtime walk-off touchdown against Seattle remains one of the most memorable plays of his career, showcasing his ability to take over games in crucial moments.

Josh Jacobs Career Statistics

Across his NFL career spanning six seasons, Jacobs has established himself as a consistent 1,000-yard rusher with elite dual-threat capabilities. His career totals reflect his status as one of the most productive running backs in the league since his debut.

NFL Career Highlights

Jacobs has compiled 7,803 rushing yards on 1,883 carries with 74 rushing touchdowns, averaging 4.2 yards per carry. He has also contributed as a receiver with 269 receptions for 2,072 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. His career-high 1,653 rushing yards in 2022 led the NFL and demonstrated his ability to carry an offense. His 2024 season with the Packers saw him rush for 1,329 yards and a career-high 15 touchdowns while adding 342 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown.

Accolades and Achievements

Throughout his career, Jacobs has earned numerous individual honors including First-team All-Pro (2022), three Pro Bowl selections (2020, 2022, 2024), and the Jim Brown Award (2023). He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2019 and led the NFL in rushing yards during the 2022 season. His NFL Top 100 Player rankings have consistently placed him among the league’s elite, reaching as high as 12th in 2023 and 33rd in 2025.

Josh Jacobs Family

Family Background and Heritage

Jacobs is of American descent with Filipino heritage through his paternal grandmother, who was a native of Angeles City. He honors this heritage by playing with a Philippine-flag stickered onto his helmet and has a portrait of his grandmother tattooed on his left hand. He also has a tattoo of the Philippines’ eight-rayed golden-yellow sun on his left biceps, representing his cultural background with pride.

Personal Life

Jacobs’ younger brother, Isaiah Jacobs, played college football for the UAB Blazers from 2020 to 2025, following in his brother’s footsteps as a running back. Jacobs identifies as Christian and has spoken publicly about his faith. His journey from experiencing homelessness during middle school to becoming an NFL star has made him an inspirational figure, and he has used his platform to raise awareness about youth homelessness through his Super Bowl commercial.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season has seen Jacobs continue his productive partnership with the Green Bay Packers. Through 15 games, he has maintained his status as a focal point of the Packers’ offensive attack, demonstrating the consistency that has defined his career. From Weeks 4 through 7, Jacobs delivered three consecutive games with two rushing touchdowns each, with the first two contests also surpassing 150 scrimmage yards, showcasing his ability to dominate on the ground and through the air.

Jacobs has compiled 939 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns on 234 carries through Week 15 of the 2025 season. He has also contributed 36 receptions for 282 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown, maintaining his dual-threat versatility. His continued production has kept the Packers competitive in the NFC playoff picture as the season progresses toward its final stretch.

The Packers’ offensive scheme has maximized Jacobs’ skill set, with the coaching staff building game plans around his physical running style and receiving ability. His chemistry with the Packers’ offensive line has yielded positive results, and his veteran leadership has complemented the team’s younger elements. As the postseason approaches, Jacobs remains focused on helping Green Bay make a deep playoff run while continuing to add to his impressive career totals.