While explaining his decision to leave the Las Vegas Raiders for the Green Bay Packers this spring, Josh Jacobs subtly criticized the instability of his former team in recent years. Despite a standout 2022 season with over 2,000 total yards and 12 touchdowns, Jacobs’ performance dipped last year, failing to reach 1,000 rushing yards for the second time in three years. This decline weakened his negotiating position in NFL free agency. Consequently, the Raiders drove a hard bargain to re-sign the 26-year-old but couldn’t meet his demands, leading the Packers to offer him a four-year, $48 million contract.
Most believe Jacobs chose Green Bay primarily for the money, and that’s partly true. During a visit to a Milwaukee Fire Department on Tuesday, he admitted that the Raiders’ unwillingness to meet his asking price was a significant factor. However, Jacobs also highlighted the Raiders’ recent instability and the prospect of a new head coach in 2024 as reasons for his move to Wisconsin.
“One of the main reasons was just the certainty of what I’m gonna get,” Jacobs told WFIN FOX. “There’s already a lot of structure, there’s already a lot of stuff in place. Having another new head coach over there, my fourth head coach while I was there, I never felt like there was any stability. Just to be able to come into a place where you’re not trying to pick up the pieces, and you’re not trying to build it out and see what works for us. We know what works, we’re basically just trying to execute the game plan. I think that’s the biggest difference.”
With new full-time head coach Antonio Pierce, the Raiders hope for stability, something they’ve lacked for years. This instability may impact the perception of the organization among players and coaches. However, the Raiders’ brand remains strong, likely balancing any negative views.