The Green Bay Packers spearheaded the NFL’s ill-fated attempt to ban the tush-push, which helped power the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl last season, but one of the Packers’ top offensive weapons has become the team’s focal point on the play as well as in short-yardage situations.
Josh Jacobs’ explosiveness has been well documented. The former rushing champion finished sixth in the NFL with 33 runs of 10 yards or more last season. However, Jacobs is also playing a starring role in a vitally important, if not slightly less flashy, element of Green Bay’s offense.
Josh Jacobs thriving for Packers in short-yardage situations
A hidden element behind Jacobs’ success for Green Bay last season was his hit rate in short-yardage situations.
Jacobs rushed for 15 touchdowns in his first season in Green Bay, with 14 of them coming inside the 10 yard-line and four of them coming within six yards to go to move the chains.
Over at PackersWire, Zach Kruse points out not only that Jacobs thrives in short-yardage from the Packers but also that he could figure into any plans to run a modified tush-push in 2025.
“The Packers got a bunch of short touchdown runs from Jacobs,” Kruse writes of Jacobs. “Showcasing the Pro Bowler’s ability to find enough room in crowded spaces and convert in short-yardage situations. Matt LaFleur even utilized Tucker Kraft in some modified “Tush Push” plays late in the season, and all five attempts were successful. In most cases, Jacobs is going to be the preferred option, and his combination of vision and power is a good one for converting the important short-yardage opportunities — although the Packers must run block more consistently in these situations in 2025.”
If this trend continues in 2025, Jacobs has the chance not just to be the engine that powers Green Bay’s offense but also its battering ram to keep the chains moving and put points on the board in short-yardage situations.
