‘No Shame, No Guilt,’ ‘He’s Disgusting’ — NFL Fans Rip Packers RB Josh Jacobs for Apparent Handcuffs Celebration After TD vs. Panthers

Josh Jacobs returned to the Green Bay Packers in Week 7 after missing the first six games of the 2026 season while on the NFL's Commissioner's Exempt List following his May arrest in a domestic dispute. But two weeks into his return, fans were aghast at one particular display from the three-time Pro Bowler.

After scoring a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football, Jacobs did a celebration in the end zone that seemed to look like him walking with handcuffs, with his hands tied behind his back. Given the severity of the lawsuit, fans were infuriated by his gesture.

A domestic dispute in May 2026 led to his arrest. Initially facing five counts of battery, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct, strangulation and suffocation, as well as intimidation of a victim, he was formally charged with battery and criminal damage to property.

Pleading no contest to both charges, he was placed on one year of supervision, alongside restitution, a fine, and a no-contact order. It also led to him missing the first six games of the season, before returning in Week 7.

But in Week 8, things took an ugly turn. After scoring a second-quarter touchdown, Jacobs performed a celebration that some social media users interpreted as mimicking someone being handcuffed. The gesture immediately drew criticism given his recent legal case.

Speaking after the game, the Packers star alleged that the broadcast did not show the full celebration. "It was more to it than that," Jacobs said. "They stopped showing the celebration after that. Like I said, it is what it is." Jacobs added that he was instead modeling his celebration after a gospel song called "Break Every Chain."

"The guys did it with me," Jacobs said. "I didn't think it was going to be something that could be perceived a certain type of way. But it's 2026, and it is what it is."

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The official account of the "Pardon My Take" podcast wondered , "Did Josh Jacobs just hit a Handcuff Celebration?"

One fan was shocked at the way the NFL was handling the situation, writing, "Yes, remember when players used to get punished for committing crimes like Ray Rice."

Another believed it was a problem unique to sports and just one other role, as he argued, "He's disgusting. I hate that professional sports is the one profession where this type of behaviour doesn't end in termination."

For one fan, it was a clear double standard from the NFL, as he claimed, "The NFL will allow Josh Jacobs to play and then try to lecture the public about social issues."

Another fan didn't mince words as he exclaimed, "Embarrassing that you're allowing him to play," tagging both the NFL and the NFL Commissioner's account.

As one fan rhetorically asked , "Is Josh Jacobs not the most disgusting human right now?" another fan mocked , "He'll probably sue to keep this video hidden, too."

It remains to be seen if the league takes further action against Jacobs for his display. But given the sensitivity around the issue, there will be more than a few calls from fans for the league to look into the matter.