Packers' Josh Jacobs insists touchdown celebration in win over Panthers wasn't a reference to his arrest

In the second quarter of what became the Green Bay Packers' 27-19 win over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night, Packers star running back Josh Jacobs celebrated the first of two touchdowns he would score during the game by placing his hands behind his back.

Following Green Bay's victory, Jacobs insisted his action wasn't a reference to his May arrest that caused him to miss multiple contests this season. 

Josh Jacobs' celebration was a reference to a gospel song, not his arrest

"They didn’t even get the whole celebration," Jacobs insisted, as shared by ESPN's Rob Demovsky and Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "S---, it was f----- one second that they just showed me. But anyways, me and [Packers receiver Savion Williams] came up with the 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." 

Jacobs pleaded no contest to charges of battery and criminal destruction of property regarding the arrest that was related to an incident involving the ball-carrier and a woman said to be his ex-girlfriend. He spent the first six weeks of the 2026 season on the commissioner's exempt list, and he could still be suspended if the NFL eventually determines that he violated its personal conduct policy.

The six games Jacobs spent on paid leave would be credited toward any suspension handed down by the league. 

"I didn't think it was going to be a thing that can be perceived a certain type of way," Jacobs added about his celebration. "But it's 2026, and it is what it is."

Josh Jacobs happy to make return to Lambeau Field

Jacobs made his season debut in Green Bay's Week 7 loss at the Detroit Lions on Oct. 25, so Thursday's game was the first he played at Lambeau Field since the 2025 campaign.

"It was good, man," Jacobs said about playing in front of the home crowd. "I think it was good. I think it was good for the team. It was good to be out there, Thursday night, electric, stadium packed. As an offense, we had our little lull moments, but the defense held it down in this game."

Jacobs and his teammates will be back on the road when the Packers play at the New England Patriots on Nov. 8. 4-3 New England will be the away team for a matchup at the 1-5 Miami Dolphins this coming Sunday.