In May 2026, Packers running back Josh Jacobs crossed a line that should never be crossed. And neither he nor his representatives are acting accordingly in what should be an effort to seek redemption.
He pleaded no contest to battery of a woman. He’s fighting in court to keep the video secret. He’s responding to additional allegations through a strident statement from his lawyers attacking the accusers.
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The most tone-deaf gesture of all came last Thursday night, when he celebrated a touchdown by pretending to wear, and to be released from, handcuffs.
His implausible explanation, which accused Prime Video of not showing enough of the celebration and attacked the media for interpreting the images with their lyin’ eyes, was contradicted by the full video of the event.
That’s not the way to play this. His no-contest plea is equivalent to saying, “I did it.” He should be contrite. He should be apologetic. He should be seeking redemption.
The Packers continue to stand behind him, primarily because he’s the best running back on the roster and they want to win games. Their reported interest in Colts running back Jonathan Taylor strongly suggests that, if the Packers could get Taylor, the support for Jacobs would immediately evaporate.
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Here’s the basic reality. If the Packers were to cut Jacobs, would anyone sign him? The Chiefs took plenty of heat last week for adding kicker Justin Tucker to the practice squad; they may not be inclined to give another second chance to a player whose arrival would compound the negative reaction to Tucker’s arrival.
The reality, in every sport at every level, is obvious. If the player has enough skill and ability, someone will find a way to justify behavior that shouldn’t be tolerated by an industry that relies so heavily on support from the public, both directly through ticket sales and TV ratings and indirectly through taxpayer funding for stadium projects.
Still, Jacobs has done himself no favors by adopting a posture of defiance. He did something no man should ever do. He’s lucky he’s good enough at football to not lose his job over it.
If he was at the bottom of the depth chart in Green Bay, he would have been gone a long time ago.
