Raiders Today

Josh Jacobs Wins FedEx Ground Player of the Year

The NFL’s leading rusher, Josh Jacobs of the Raiders, wins the FedEx Ground Player of the Year Award.

Jairo Alvarado

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Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs was awarded the FedEx Ground Player of the Year Award on Thursday during Super Bowl weekend.

The NFL announced the winner on the morning of NFL Honors, which showcases the league’s prestigious awards.

“I think it’s an honor to win the FedEx Ground Player of the Year Award. I won it throughout the regular season for a few weeks,” Jacobs said on the NFL Network’s Good Morning Football.

“It’s going for a good cause, being able to give $20,000 back to an HBCU, especially Langston University, the HBCU that I choose. Growing up, it was the first college I ever actually even been to and first college I ever seen.”

Fans voted Jacobs the winner, beating out two of the league's other top rushers, Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb and Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry.

The Raiders running back was named FedEx Ground Player of the Week twice this season (Week 12 and 13).

In Week 12, Jacob recorded a career-high of 229 yards on the ground against the Seattle Seahawks and was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week following that game.

In his fourth season in the league, Jacobs won his first rushing title this season, leading the league with 1,653 rushing yards. He scored 12 touchdowns on his 340 rushing attempts while adding 53 receptions for 400 yards.

Jacobs also finished the league with the most scrimmage yards, recording 2,053.

The Raiders running back added another postseason accolade, as the franchise, the league, and other major media sites have recognized him.

After the season, he was recognized as a Pro Bowler for the second time in his career and named to the AP NFL All-Pro First Team, Pro Football Focus All-Pro First Team, and NFLPA All-Pro First Team for the first time in his career.

During NFL Honors, Jacobs also received the inaugural Jim Brown Award, created by the NFL to recognize the league leader in rushing yards.

"It is a true honor to be named as the first recipient of the Jim Brown Award," Jacobs said in a press release. "Jim's excellence on the football field was unparalleled and his role as a leader off the field showed his unwavering strength and commitment to the community. Jim's impact can be felt today and his legacy continues through everyone who strives to make a difference. I am beyond proud to receive an award named for such a great man."

The leverage for a new contract favors Jacobs, and he enters the off-season as a free agent with the Raiders.

The good news is that Jacobs wants to stay with the Raiders and recently bought a home in Las Vegas.

NFL Honors took place at the Symphony Hall in Phoenix, Ariz., just days before Super Bowl LVII at the Cardinals’ State Farm Stadium in nearby Glendale.

The NFL Draft will occur at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., from Thursday, April 27 to Saturday, April 29. ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network will broadcast all seven rounds.

The NFL Scouting Combine is Feb. 28-March 6, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. March 7, 2023, before 4 p.m. EST, is the club's deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. Starting at 12 p.m. EDT on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EDT on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15.

The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.

Watch the NFL Playoffs live when you get your Raiders tickets from SI Tickets HERE.


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Jairo Alvarado
JAIRO ALVARADO

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