The Raiders coach expressed the pain of Josh Jacobs’ departure, saying, “That departure really stung.”
Last offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders prevented running back Josh Jacobs from entering free agency by applying their franchise tag on the former Alabama standout. However, since the tag didn’t lead to a long-term agreement with Jacobs, he ultimately reached free agency earlier this month and inked a deal with the Green Bay Packers.
Raiders coach Antonio Pierce expressed his disappointment regarding Jacobs’ departure, stating, “It’s tough to see. I’ve always known him as the heartbeat of the team, a true Raider. But as we all understand, it’s a business. While it may sound cliché, it holds true: Money talks, and you have to do what’s best for yourself and your family. I wish him nothing but the best.”
Jacobs secured a four-year, $48 million contract with the Green Bay Packers, which included a $12.5 million signing bonus, constituting the guaranteed portion of the deal.
Speaking at the NFL’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, on Monday, Pierce acknowledged the inevitability of such situations, saying, “It’s part of the game. Every team goes through it. We must move forward and adapt.”
Pierce also highlighted the silver lining, noting, “Fortunately, Zamir White had a significant opportunity last season. We’ve seen his potential, and now he’s set to lead alongside Alex Mattison.”
Selected in the first round of the 2019 draft, Jacobs spent five seasons with the Raiders. His 5,545 rushing yards place him third in franchise history, trailing only Marcus Allen’s 8,545 and Mark van Eeghen’s 5,907. Jacobs claimed the Jim Brown Award as the NFL’s leading rusher in the 2022 season, during which he also led the league in yards from scrimmage.
