Josh Jacobs, once homeless, found it difficult to sleep on beds during Alabama days

Josh Jacobs signed a four-year, $48 million deal and racked up 1,329 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.

Josh Jacobs, once homeless, found it difficult to sleep on beds during Alabama days

Josh Jacobs during his time at the Alabama Crimson Tide (Image via Alabama Athletics)

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs, a 27-year-old from Tulsa, Oklahoma, overcame a turbulent childhood to rise through the ranks of professional football. His journey from homelessness to NFL stardom has inspired fans across the country.

Growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Josh Jacobs didn’t know the comfort of a bed. With his father, Marty, and four siblings, Jacobs spent much of his childhood without a stable home, often sleeping in their car as they moved from place to place.

In an early 2020s ESPN documentary, the Green Bay Packers running back opened up about how deeply those early struggles shaped him, even after his life changed. He reflected on his past, saying that sleeping in a car was an experience he often looked back on. He acknowledged that, although it was rough, it played a significant role in shaping who he is today and remains an inseparable part of his life.

So when Jacobs finally made it to the University of Alabama on a football scholarship, he revealed that one of the hardest adjustments wasn’t on the field, it was getting used to sleeping in a bed. In a recent sit-down in the Pivot podcast, Jacobs admitted that comfort felt very foreign.

Like the first month and a half in college, I slept on the floor, like I made like a pallet on the floor because I never had a bed. I couldn’t get comfortable on the bed, like for some reason, I was trying to lay on the bed, i couldn’t do it.

Josh Jacobs admitted to the hosts

In the interview, he also admitted that he didn’t find his behaviour or his upbringing strange or different from others. He explained how former Alabama TE and his roommate Irvin Martin Smith Jr. were the first to open him up about his life.

It took my roommate, at the time, it was Irv Smith, Louisiana boy. He had came in, like man, what’s going on, and that was the first time I was ever like talked about it with somebody. I remember me and him got really close after that, but that was the first time I was like, man, maybe how I grew up in like my experiences, it wasn’t normal.

Josh Jacobs continued

Josh Jacobs continues to shine after a breakout year last season

After a few terms in Las Vegas, where he became one of the best running backs in franchise history, he joined the Green Bay Packers at the start of the year. With the Raiders, Jacobs became the first to record more than 2000 scrimmage yards in almost three decades. He also set a rookie rushing record in franchise history.

Josh Jacobs
Josh Jacobs (Image via Open Source)

In the 2024 season, Josh Jacobs redefined his narrative by bouncing back from an injury-shortened 2023 campaign with a standout performance for the Green Bay Packers. After signing a four-year, $48 million deal, Jacobs quickly proved his worth, racking up 1,329 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.

His dominance was on full display in multiple games, including back-to-back three-touchdown performances in Weeks 12 and 14. He also played a leadership role in the season, where he splurged to show his grace and gratitude. During Christmas, he gifted his offensive line expensive presents, acknowledging their role in his success.

From overcoming adversity to earning a Pro Bowl selection and posting 121 scrimmage yards in a playoff game, Jacobs showed he is still among the NFL’s elite backs.

Also Read: Josh Jacobs admits he was supposed to hang out with Henry Ruggs III on the night he killed an innocent in road accident