Is it in poor taste to celebrate scoring a touchdown by simulating being arrested, put in handcuffs, and then breaking out of the handcuffs after you were actually arrested in real life for domestic violence? Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs doesn’t think so, and it’s actually your fault if you think he did anything tasteless in Thursday night’s 27-19 win over the Carolina Panthers. It was a reference to a gospel song; duh, everyone should know that.
Jacobs played in his second game of the season since being removed from the Commissioner’s Exempt List after missing the first six games. The 28-year-old running back was arrested on May 26, 2026, by the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department following a May 23 domestic disturbance involving his then-girlfriend. According to the criminal complaint, Jacobs grabbed her, threw her to the ground, and struck her head as she was trying to leave his garage.
Per the report, a police officer “observed redness to [her] face and neck and was able to feel that she had a bump on the back of her head. She described that she was in pain as a result of the injuries.”
Jacobs pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property. Evidence from the case, including the video of the alleged incident that was caught on a camera in Jacobs’ garage, was sealed by a temporary order from Judge Marc Hammer in September.
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Josh Jacobs Handcuff Celebration
In Thursday night’s game at Lambeau Field, Jacobs scored a rushing touchdown from one yard out in the second quarter, giving the Packers a lead that they would not relinquish against the Panthers. Then, Jacobs celebrated by putting his hands behind his back, acting as if he were in handcuffs.
Josh Jacobs Explains Celebration
After Green Bay’s victory, Jacobs was asked directly about the celebration. This is what he told the reporters in the locker room.
“Yeah, they didn’t even get the whole celebration. Me and Savion came up with the celebration. If they would have seen the whole celebration, basically last week we said the first celebration when I score I was going to thank God; that’s what I did last week. Second, was going to be “Break Every Chain”; it’s a gospel song; that’s what was going to be the next celebration. It’s just a correlation. Like I said, the media is going to run with it; they’re going to make it something that wasn’t. It is what it is.” -Josh Jacobs
And here’s the full video of the touchdown celebration that was not shown on Amazon Prime.
Even if you want to believe Jacobs’ story, it’s astonishing to hear him complain that the entire celebration wasn’t shown on the broadcast. Yeah, Jacob, I wonder why the NFL wouldn’t want to show a guy who allegedly threw down his girlfriend and hit her in the head, celebrating by mimicking being handcuffed?
This dude simply hasn’t shown any remorse for his actions and has been playing the victim card since rejoining the Packers.
Bad judgment, bad guy, and despite the touchdown, Jacobs has been a bad player in his first two games back this season. On Thursday, he faced the NFL’s worst rushing defense and managed only 1.9 yards per carry, with a long of six yards.
