NFL Expands Probe Into Josh Jacobs Abuse Claims

The National Football League announced on Saturday that it will examine new allegations of physical and verbal abuse involving Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs. The league stated it will incorporate these claims into its ongoing investigation, which has remained open since the initial incident was reported.

The NFL made the decision after the Hobart and Lawrence Police Department released public records on Friday night. These documents include reports from three women who accused Jacobs of abuse in incidents dating back to April 2021. The women reported the allegations to police after learning of Jacobs' arrest in connection with a separate domestic violence matter in May.

The primary incident occurred on May 23 at a home in Brown County. The victim told police that Jacobs appeared to be a different person during the alleged battery. She reported that he attempted to strangle or suffocate her twice, marking the first time she had experienced such behavior from him. Police noted in their report that she described his demeanor as enraged and stated she feared for her life.

According to the 129-page report, the victim claimed the conflict began when she accused Jacobs of speaking with other women. When she attempted to leave, the report alleges Jacobs blocked her exit, destroyed her phone, and grabbed her by the neck in the garage. He then slammed her to the concrete floor, causing a head injury that resulted in a loss of consciousness. Upon waking, the victim reported difficulty walking, blurry vision, and seeing dots or stars.

Jacobs pleaded no contest to misdemeanor counts of battery and criminal damage to property following a May 26 traffic stop. His legal team, consisting of David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld, and Clarence F. Duchac III, addressed the new records in an emailed statement. They argued that the Brown County District Attorney’s office possessed the uncorroborated allegations for months before the plea agreement was reached.

The attorneys emphasized that the district attorney determined only two misdemeanor charges were warranted after an exhaustive investigation with the police. They noted that Jacobs has repeatedly expressed remorse and is honoring the terms of the plea deal. The legal team highlighted that the other allegations were previously unreported and dated back several years.

Police body camera footage from the May 26 arrest shows Jacobs questioning the fairness of the legal process while in the police car. He asked an officer how to avoid charges if he knew he was innocent. The officer responded that it was up to Jacobs’ lawyer and that the charges were referrals rather than final determinations. The officer added that the district attorney and judges would decide the final outcome based on the initial investigation.

The police department withheld some records, including garage surveillance video, after both Jacobs and the victim sued to block the release. In a letter explaining the decision, the department stated it would have released the footage with the victim’s body pixelated had it not been restricted. Friends of the victim later corroborated her account via phone calls and text messages in the hours following the May 23 incident, though neither friend was present during the event itself.