Josh Jacobs appeared to put his hands behind his back like he was in handcuffs just 10 days after he was removed from the NFL Commissioner Exempt List amid an investigation into his arrest for battery and criminal damage to property. He claims the touchdown celebration was an ode to a gospel song called ‘Break Every Chain.’
It is not entirely clear how one correlates to the other.
Although Jacobs says that he was not making a mockery of his arrest, the NFL may still choose to fine the Green Bay Packers running back. He could also receive additional discipline or a suspension from the league at a later date.
Did Josh Jacobs pretend to be in handcuffs?
Jacobs, 28, was initially placed on the Exempt List on August 30, 2026. The list is a special administrative status used by the NFL for players that face serious criminal charges, pending investigations, or violent crime allegations. As detailed in the NFL Player Personnel Policy Manual, the list functions as paid leave. It is not a disciplinary suspension.
His placement on the list stems from an arrest on May 23. Police responded to a report of a disturbance between a man and a women. They were told by a man at the house that Jacob’s girlfriend was involved with the incident. Officers said that they spoke with Jacob’s girlfriend at a neighbor’s house. She told them that a lump on her head was from the running back.
According to the police report, the girlfriend said that she started fighting with Jacobs after she found out that he had been talking to other women while going through his phone. She threw the phone.
At that point, Jacobs allegedly grabbed her arm and a struggle went on for several minutes. When she eventually walked out of the room, he allegedly followed her, grabbed her, and threw her to the ground — which caused her to hit her head.
The officer observed redness on the girlfriend’s face and neck. She had a bump on her face.
Although Jacobs and his lawyers continue to deny the accusations, he was formally charged with battery and criminal damage to property in August. The NFL’s decision to place him on the Exempt List caused him to miss the first six games of the season. He returned to boos in Detroit last weekend. He did not care.
Jacobs played his second game of the season on Sunday. It appeared as though he pretended to be in handcuffs by putting his hands behind his back to celebrate a touchdown during the second quarter.
The Green Bay Packers running back claims the touchdown celebration was an ode to a gospel song.
When asked by the media about the touchdown celebration during his postgame availability, Josh Jacobs denied the interpretation that it was a mockery of his arrest. He said it was an ode to the gospel song ‘Break Every Chain,’ which gained worldwide fame through a live recording by Tasha Cobbs Leonard in 2013.
Jacobs said that the TV cameras did not capture the whole celebration. It was not handcuffs.
A new video from Carson Fowler of WFRV Local 5 shows the entire celebration. Jacobs had a brief interaction with wide receiver Savion Williams after he put his hands behind his back. It appeared as though Williams pretended to unlock whatever it was that was restricting Jacobs’ arms (handcuffs, shackles, etc) and kicked them to the side or through them. Take a look:
The full TD celebration in question: https://t.co/jUhME09rjn pic.twitter.com/xMu1702t1f
— Carson Fowler (@CarsonFowlerTV) October 30, 2026
There you have it. That is the full celebration. Jacobs says it is an ode to a gospel song. He did not explain how.