Josh Jacobs links touchdown celebration to gospel song

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs stated that his recent touchdown celebration was a reference to a gospel song, not a nod to his recent arrest. Jacobs made the comment in the aftermath of his return to the field after two games. The gesture occurred during a 27-19 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night.

The celebration took place after Jacobs scored on a one-yard run in the second quarter. He placed his hands behind his back while accepting congratulations from teammates. Viewers on social media quickly noted the similarity to the position of a person being handcuffed. This interpretation gained traction because Jacobs had been placed on the commissioner’s exempt list following a May altercation with his then-girlfriend.

Jacobs said he and his teammates, including receiver Savion Williams, planned the sequence before his season debut. They intended to perform a celebration thanking God after his first touchdown of the year. That initial celebration occurred on Sunday during a 20-17 loss at Detroit, where Jacobs dropped to his knees and raised his arms. The team had also prepared a specific move for his second touchdown, which they called “Break Every Chain.”

The running back noted that the television broadcast only captured a brief segment of the full routine. He explained that the gesture was more complex than the short clip suggested. “The guys did it with me,” Jacobs said. “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 pleaded no contest last month to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property. The charges stemmed from the May incident where his former girlfriend alleged he threw her to the ground. He was removed from the exempt list last week, allowing him to play again. The NFL’s investigation into the matter is still ongoing.