For a vast majority of people, sports are just games, something to pass the time. Then there are those who love the game and put sweat and tears into proving that. But there also lies a tiny group of people outside of this, for whom sports transcend the notion of simply being a game and cement themselves as their only reality. For players like Josh Jacobs, sports become not only their outlet but also their lives.
Josh Jacob’s rise to fame began in a different way than you would expect. While he didn’t have many resources or opportunities growing up, he did have the mentality and belief of his father.
Josh came from a divided family, where his dad raised him and his four siblings. His dad struggled, and there were days where homelessness and hunger were their reality. His childhood was not easy—he grew up eating rice and ramen, and the comfort of home was his car. Every day was an obstacle for the Jacobs family, but they didn’t shy away from recognizing that the struggle shaped who they were.
Marty, Jacob’s father, didn’t have a lot to give his family, but what he could give them was his mentality. Marty was fully aware of the tussle of life, and he knew the pain and hardship that came with it. He didn’t practice an attitude of entitlement because he believed that every good thing in life came from backbreaking work.
Marty says he could have gone the easy way and sold drugs for a living but said, “it’s hard work and perseverance that gets rewarded, not shortcuts.” He knew that for his family to succeed in life it would mean sacrificing his life. He lived his life as an example of a man living his life right through the struggle.
Josh approached football like his father approached life, giving it all he had without expecting any praise. The way he plays is an example of his life, breaking through barrier after barrier to keep moving forward. Unlike other running backs, he doesn’t avoid conflict. It is the part of his play that allows him to excel, and his presence is known and respected.
Despite Josh’s unique playstyle, in which he averaged 15 yards per carry, 2700 total yards, and 31 touchdowns, he was overlooked. He wasn’t even a three-star prospect at the beginning of his high school senior year. His school and background affected his reputation and his chance to play college football.
Josh himself recognized this, saying in an interview with The Bleacher Report, “I was always under the radar, a stigma of where I came from.” It took the effort and belief of a football scout named Gerald Smith to finally give Jacobs some spotlight.
Jacobs took this opportunity and ran with it, becoming a star athlete in Alabama, the top of the college football world. While attending the University of Alabama, he scored 21 touchdowns, ran for 2021 yards, and was named SEC Finals MVP his junior year. He entered the 2019 draft and was picked at No. 24 in the first round by the Oakland Raiders.
It is remarkable to think that a kid coming from homelessness and poverty has become the icon of one of the greatest teams and fan bases of the NFL. A kid coming from nothing fought every day for his life and now hears his name being shouted and celebrated as he enters the stadium ready for another battle.
Jacobs, now entering his second year as RB1 for the Las Vegas Raiders, has already broken records and made the list of the top 100 players. He is arguably one of the greatest running backs in the league and destined to become a leading star in the NFL.
We often search for lessons of success from the extraordinary few. We want to copy the greatness of those whose talents and abilities have fully shaped their success, but more often than not it is out of reach. Instead of longing for what’s beyond reach, why don’t we strive to mimic a mentality like Jacobs’? He demonstrates an example of perseverance through hardship, gratefulness in success and humility over pride.