Josh Jacobs Will Be An All-Time Great RB

When it comes to active players at the running back position, Jacobs may not be at the very top of the pyramid, but he’s certainly one of the best. Along with passing the eye test, as the man is a touchdown machine, his stats also support this. 

Jacobs ranks sixth in active RB career rushing yards per game (76.1), fourth in career rushing yards (7,233), and third in rushing touchdowns (67). Consistency is his strong suit; however, as in single-season rankings among active RBs, he ranks ninth, fifth, and tenth in these categories, respectively.

Jacobs’ best season came in 2022, as he led the NFL in rushing yards (1,653), first downs (93), rushing yards per game (97.2), and most yards after scrimmage (2.053). He was named an All-Pro while making his second (of an eventual three) Pro Bowls and finished fifth in the voting for Offensive Player of the Year. 

While having been consistently good throughout his career so far, Jacobs hasn’t had the best support around him to flourish in the way some other backs have. In all but two seasons in his career (2023 and currently in 2025), he’s averaged more yards after contact than before. 

While in Vegas, Jacobs was one of the only consistently reliable offensive weapons and thus was a major part of the offense in a way that defenses could plan around. Now, with a much better quarterback on a much more well-rounded team, he’s able to be an even more effective contributor both on the ground and through the air.

What does this mean for Jacobs’ standing among the best of all-time, though, and where does he currently rank among them?

Jacobs’ Standing Among The Greats

Jacobs, while remaining in the cream of the crop of today’s backs, doesn’t rank nearly as highly as one may think when looking at the all-time leaderboards. He ranks 66th in rushing yards (7,233), 25th in rushing yards per game (76.1), and is tied at 42nd for rushing touchdowns (67). 

Despite how lackluster this may seem for the talent Jacobs has, he’s on a trajectory that will eventually place him among the best. He’s never finished with fewer than six touchdowns in a season (a total he’s reached in five games in 2025), and is on pace to finish this season with 20. 

While this isn’t a guarantee, it would tie Jacobs for 20th in all-time rushing touchdowns with Frank Gore and Otis Anderson. Say he is only able to score half as much the following season (10), this would place him just outside the top ten, tied at 12th with Jerome Bettis and Franco Harris. 

Jacobs already sits above guys like O.J. Simpson, Larry Csonka, and Thurman Thomas in rushing touchdowns, and can very feasibly ascend much higher on this list. He may not have elite quickness or explosiveness, but his reliability (especially in the red zone) should see his name considered among the all-time best once he hangs up his cleats. 

End Of My Josh Jacobs Rant

Jacobs isn’t Christian McCaffrey or Derrick Henry, i.e, a player who is essentially unanimously agreed upon to be a lock for the Hall of Fame. He is, however, a player who seems poised to make his case for such.

Already among the very best active running backs, Jacobs is also steadily gunning for the all-time leaderboards as he’s consistently padding his stat sheet with both rushing and receiving touchdowns. He should very well, especially considering the situation he’s now in with the Packers, continue to pepper box scores with TDs until his name can’t not be mentioned with the all-time greats.