Jacobs Says His Hands-Behind-the-Back Touchdown Celebration Was a Tribute

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs says the touchdown celebration that drew a stir online was a tribute to a gospel song, not a jab at his own legal troubles.

In the Packers' 27-19 win over the Carolina Panthers, Jacobs scored on a one-yard run, which means he carried the ball in from one yard out. In the second quarter, he briefly put his hands behind his back while teammates congratulated him. Some television viewers thought he was acting out being handcuffed, and video of the moment spread quickly on social media.

Jacobs told The Guardian that he and his teammates had planned a celebration built around "Break Every Chain," a gospel song, for his second touchdown of the season. Teammates joined him in it, and he said he did not think it would be read the way some people read it. He also said the broadcast showed only a small piece of the routine.

His first touchdown of the season came in a 20-17 loss at Detroit. Before that season debut, Jacobs said, he talked with receiver Savion Williams and other pass catchers about a celebration to thank God. He went to his knees and raised his arms after that score.

The Carolina game was Jacobs's second of the season, and it came after he returned from the NFL's commissioner's exempt list. That list is a status that keeps a player from playing or practicing while the league looks into an off-field matter. He was placed on it after charges were filed in August over a May altercation with his then-girlfriend, who said he threw her to the ground. Jacobs pleaded no contest on Sept. 10 to misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property.

He was removed from the list last week, which allows him to play again while the NFL's investigation continues. In October, Jacobs also filed a civil suit asking a court to permanently restrict access to records and video from the May 23 incident, according to ESPN and Reuters. Jacobs, who is 28, said he was not happy that people linked his legal case to the celebration.

For fans, the episode is a reminder of how quickly a few seconds of television can be read in many ways. Jacobs has the explanation on record, and the league's investigation is still open. Anyone who watched the clip will have to decide for themselves how it looked, and the answer may depend on how much of the celebration they saw.