Josh Jacobs denied making a mockery of his domestic violence arrest with a handcuffs celebration after he scored a touchdown on Thursday Night Football.
The Green Bay Packers star found the end zone in a 27-19 win over the Carolina Panthers in just his second game of the season.
Jacobs missed the first six games of the season amid a league investigation into allegations of domestic abuse that saw him placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List.
After finding the end zone in the second quarter at Lambeau Field, he clasped his hands behind his back, appearing to mimic being placed in handcuffs just months after his arrest in May.
But Jacobs claimed the celebration actually had religious meaning and was part of a sequence of celebrations inspired by the gospel song ‘Break Every Chain’ in a plan concocted with teammate Savion Williams.
He also complained Amazon Prime Video’s broadcast did not pick up the entire sequence.
Green Bay Packers star Josh Jacobs appeared to perform a handcuff celebration on Thursday
Jacobs later offered an explanation claiming his celebration was inspired by a gospel song
‘They didn’t even get the whole celebration,’ Jacobs told reporters after the game. ‘S***, it was f***in’ one second that they just showed me.
‘But anyways, 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 gonna thank God, that’s what I did last week. Second was going to be ‘Break Every Chain.’ It’s a gospel song.
‘That was gonna be the next celebration. It’s a correlation. The media is gonna run with it. They’re gonna make it something that it wasn’t. But it is what it is.’
Despite Jacobs now offering an explanation, his celebration was slammed by those watching on social media as it unfolded.
‘No way Josh Jacobs just did a handcuff celebration after being arrested for domestic violence,’ one account posted on X. ‘This dude has zero shame.’
Another wrote: ‘Bro turned his domestic violence into a touchdown dance. Impressive in the worst way.’
‘Josh Jacobs got arrested for Domestic Violence. His first TD celebration back is handcuffs… Very classy,’ a third said in an apparent sarcastic tone.
‘Josh really has no shame or remorse,’ added a fourth, while another chimed in that it was ‘not a good look.’
‘Some things shouldn’t be made light of, especially when real-life issues are involved. Not every celebration is worth the message it sends,’ shared another.
Jacobs found the end zone in the first half of the Packers’ win over Carolina in Green Bay
Football fans were left incensed over his celebration, which appeared to be a nod to his arrest
Jacobs pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property following a May altercation with his then-girlfriend. He was ultimately charged in August.
The three-time Pro Bowl selection was specifically accused of grabbing the woman and throwing her to the floor of his garage, causing her to hit her head. Police said surveillance footage from the camera system in the garage backed up the woman’s accusations of battery and the destruction of her phone.
Jacobs was ordered last month to attend counseling and pay restitution to the victim.
The NFL is still investigating Jacobs over the incident. As for the six games he already missed this year, those can count towards any suspension he ends up receiving.
He made his return and season debut last week against the Detroit Lions when he also scored a touchdown.
‘I thought I’d be playing sooner,’ Jacobs told reporters ahead of his return last week. ‘But, you know, the optics of everything, I understand the other side.
‘For me, like I said, I’m just grateful to be able to play. It was one of them things where I didn’t want to sit the whole year and then figure it out. I’m just grateful to be back on the team and to be back playing.’
Jacobs also expressed regret for bringing a distraction to the team.
Jacobs already pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property following a May altercation with his then-girlfriend. He was charged in August
‘Obviously, man, I’m remorseful and sorry for putting this team in this situation,’ the running back said. ‘Sometimes when you go through life, situations occur and a four-second, three-second decision can alter your life, honestly.’
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Jacobs’ attorneys said: ‘Josh has dedicated the last several months to bettering himself, and he accepts responsibility for his actions. He is excited to get back to work and on the field with his teammates.
‘Josh is grateful for the support he is receiving from his teammates, coaches, the Packers organization, and the greatest fans in the world. Since there are ongoing legal matters, he will not have any further comment.’
