Career Timeline of Josh Jacobs: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Josh Jacobs made an impact.

Joshua Jacobs is a professional football running back currently playing for the Green Bay Packers. Drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2019 after playing college football at Alabama, he quickly established himself as a top rusher, exceeding 1,000 rushing yards in his first two seasons and earning All-Rookie honors in 2019 and a Pro Bowl selection in 2020. Notably, in 2022, he led the NFL in rushing yards (1,653) and became the first Raider since 1985 to exceed 2,000 scrimmage yards. After five seasons with the Raiders, Jacobs joined the Packers in 2024.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2016: Freshman Season at Alabama

In 2016, as a freshman at Alabama, Jacobs rushed 85 times for 567 yards and four touchdowns, splitting time with Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough.

2017: Sophomore Season at Alabama

In 2017, during his sophomore year, Jacobs had 284 rushing yards on 46 carries with one touchdown, while playing with a broken ankle for most of the season.

2018: SEC Championship Game MVP

In 2018, Josh Jacobs was named the MVP of the SEC Championship Game against the Georgia Bulldogs after rushing for 83 yards with two touchdowns.

July 9, 2019: Signed Rookie Contract

On July 9, 2019, Josh Jacobs signed his four-year rookie contract with the Oakland Raiders.

2019: NFL Debut and Record-Breaking Rookie Season

In 2019, Josh Jacobs made his NFL debut, rushed for 1,150 yards, and set the Raiders rookie record for rushing yards in a season. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team and PFWA Offensive Rookie of the Year. He was also ranked 72nd on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020.

2019: Selected by the Raiders, NFL All-Rookie Team

In 2019, Josh Jacobs was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the NFL draft and was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team. He also rushed for over 1,000 yards.

2020: Pro Bowl Selection and Season Performance

In 2020, Josh Jacobs rushed for 1,065 yards and 12 touchdowns and was named to the Pro Bowl. The Las Vegas Raiders won games against the Carolina Panthers, the New Orleans Saints, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cleveland Browns and the Denver Broncos. He was ranked 68th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2021.

2020: Pro Bowl Selection

In 2020, Josh Jacobs was named to his first Pro Bowl.

2021: Season Performance and Wild Card Round

In 2021, Josh Jacobs had 872 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns, as well as 54 receptions for 348 receiving yards. In the Wild Card Round, Jacobs had 127 scrimmage yards in a loss to the Bengals.

April 29, 2022: Raiders Decline Fifth-Year Option

On April 29, 2022, the Raiders announced that they would not pick up the fifth-year option on Jacobs' contract, making him a free agent in the 2023 offseason.

2022: Rushing Yards Leader

In 2022, Josh Jacobs led the league in rushing yards with 1,653 and surpassed 2,000 scrimmage yards.

February 9, 2023: Jim Brown Award

On February 9, 2023, Josh Jacobs was awarded with the NFL's first Jim Brown Award at the NFL Honors. He was named as a Pro Bowler and first team All-Pro and was ranked 12th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.