Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs pleaded no contest in a Wisconsin courtroom on September 10, 2026, to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property stemming from a May altercation with his girlfriend, clearing a path for potential league discipline.
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs appeared in Brown County Circuit Court to enter no contest pleas to two misdemeanor charges on Sept. 10. The legal resolution closes a chapter that began when Hobart-Lawrence police officers investigated a disturbance at his home on May 23.
Brown County Court Plea Details and Fines
Under the terms accepted by the court, Jacobs was convicted of misdemeanor battery and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine plus court costs. For the accompanying count of criminal damage to property, prosecutors and defense counsel agreed to a deferred judgment arrangement. The court suspended the property damage charge for 12 months, with a review hearing scheduled for Sept. 10, 2027. If Jacobs complies with the conditions during that year, the charge will be dismissed.
The agreement requires Jacobs to undergo counseling, remain under the supervision of criminal justice officials, avoid all contact with the victim, pay restitution, and commit no further criminal acts. A $10,000 signature bond was established to ensure compliance with the terms. The court appearance was originally scheduled for November, but attorneys moved the date up to Thursday at Jacobs’ request to resolve the matter sooner.
Jacobs’ legal representation, including attorneys David Chesnoff, Richard Schonfeld, and Clarence Duchac, emphasized his charitable background in a statement following the proceedings. Today’s resolution is set against a career-long history of Josh’s community work while in the NFL, which has centered on the circumstances of his early life,
the attorneys stated, adding that With this agreement, Josh has accepted responsibility for his conduct and resolved this matter.
May Altercation and Police Investigation in Hobart
The charges originated from an incident on May 23 at Jacobs’ home in Hobart, Wisconsin. According to the criminal complaint filed by the Brown County District Attorney’s Office, the dispute began when Jacobs refused to return his girlfriend’s phone. After a physical struggle involving Jacobs grabbing the woman’s arm, she followed him in a separate vehicle to retrieve the device.
The argument resumed back at the residence. When the woman attempted to leave through the garage, Jacobs grabbed her and threw her to the ground, and she struck her head, suffering an injury, the complaint states. An responding officer observed redness on the woman’s face and a bump on the back of her head, noting she was in pain.
Law enforcement recovered surveillance video from the home that corroborated the victim’s account of the garage altercation and the damaged phone. The Hobart-Lawrence Police Department had initially referred broader charges including disorderly conduct with domestic abuse enhancers, strangulation and suffocation, and witness intimidation, though the district attorney’s office ultimately proceeded on the misdemeanor counts.
Commissioner’s Exempt List Status and NFL Discipline
The NFL placed Jacobs on the Commissioner’s Exempt List on August 30, prohibiting him from practicing or playing while continuing to receive his salary.
Under the NFL collective bargaining agreement, the standard baseline suspension for domestic violence matters is six games. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur noted prior to the plea that the organization sought clarity regarding the running back’s availability. Jacobs signed a four-year, $48 million contract with Green Bay in free agency ahead of the 2024 campaign after spending his first five seasons with the Oakland and Las Vegas Raiders. He rushed for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns during the 2025 NFL season.
