Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was criticized for seemingly mocking his recent domestic violence arrest during a touchdown celebration — but he said people have it all wrong.
Jacobs, 28, walked with his hands behind his back, in the end zone after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of the Packers’ 27-19 win over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, October 29.
Many perceived the celebration to be a nod to his arrest in May, when he was charged with misdemeanor battery and destruction of property after an incident with a woman at his Wisconsin home.
After the game, Jacobs said the gesture was supposed to be an ode to the gospel song “Break Every Chain.”
“Basically, last week, we said the first celebration, when I score, I was going to thank God — that’s what I did last week,” Jacobs told reporters. “The second one was going to be ‘Break Every Chain.’ It’s a gospel song. That was going to be the next celebration. It’s just a correlation, but like I said, the media [is] going to run with it. They’re going to make it something that it wasn’t, but it is what it is.”
He added, “I didn’t think it was going to be a thing that can be perceived a certain type of way. But it’s 2026, and it is what it is.”
Jacobs argued that the Prime Video broadcast of the game failed to “get the whole celebration.”
“It was f***ing one second that they just showed me,” he said.
Jacobs pleaded no contest to the charges against him in September. He was convicted of battery and given a deferred judgment agreement on the destruction of property charge.
The running back returned to action against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, October 25, after spending the first six games of the season on the commissioner’s exempt list.
Thursday night’s win against the Panthers marked Jacobs’ first game at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field since his arrest.
“It was good, man,” he said. “I think it was good. I think it was good for the team. It was good to be out there, Thursday night, electric, stadium packed. As an offense, we had our little lull moments, but the defense held it down in this game.”
Jacobs had two touchdowns on Thursday — one rushing, one passing — and finished with 39 rushing yards and 13 receiving yards.
The Packers return to action against the New England Patriots on Sunday, November 8.
