Josh Jacobs is perfect for Green Bay. And not just because he is one of the last remaining bellcow running backs in the NFL.
There is no reason to pull Jacobs off the field. He can run between the tackles, he can run outside, he can block and he can catch passes.
He can do all those things at a very high level. In 2022, he led the league in rushing yardage with 1,653 — with 1,156 of those coming after contact. But he isn’t just a sledgehammer. He has great vision and the speed of a track star as he was second in runs of 10 yards or more with 41 that year.
He’s the total package. He can do so many things. You’d think he would be on top of the world.
But that’s just it. He’s not.
“Being a guy that has a lot of history and especially with the Raiders program, in the top three in almost every category since I’ve been there, it doesn’t really mean nothing because we didn’t win,” Jacobs said. “Being able to leave a legacy is something that I think about now, being older. Playing playoff football and obviously trying to get a ring is the only thing that’s really on my mind.”
Jacobs has put up the numbers. He has proven that he can run circles, hexagons, heck, he could run parallelograms against opposing defenses. But none of that matters if you’re not winning. Jacobs is entering his sixth season and he’s only been to the playoffs once, losing to the Bengals in the 2021 AFC Wild Card.
Since 2019, Jacobs’ Las Vegas teams have averaged 7.8 wins a season. Every year but one was marred with marginal play — only one season tallied a winning percentage better than .500.
“Never really played playoff football,” Jacobs said. “So, for me, especially as the back, I feel like you prove yourself in the games that really matter. I haven’t really gotten that opportunity. So, that’s something that I’m definitely looking forward to.”
That could be a tough pill to swallow for Raiders fans. But the 26-year-old Jacobs is just being honest. The only thing that people remember in the NFL is wins. There’s a reason why Dan Marino will never be considered one of the best ever. And it’s not because he threw for 48 touchdowns in his second season in the NFL. It’s because he never won a Super Bowl ring.
Is that fair? Maybe not. But that’s been the standard rubric for a long time. I never liked Tom Brady’s footwork or his inconsistent deep ball, but he won a jewelry store of rings. Who cares about that other stuff if you’re winning?
And that’s where Jacobs comes in. He came to Green Bay because he knows that the life of a running back is finite. And because of that, he wants to make sure every playing moment matters.
Because if you’re not winning in the NFL, you are nearly forgotten.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on “Clubhouse Live” and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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