Josh Jacobs Says Gospel Song “Break Every Chain” Inspired His Touchdown Celebration

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs says a touchdown celebration that drew questions about its meaning was inspired by the gospel song "Break Every Chain." According to an October 30 report from ChurchLeaders, Jacobs explained that he and teammate Savion Williams planned the gesture as an expression of their Christian faith.

The celebration reportedly occurred during Green Bay's October 29 game against the Carolina Panthers. After reaching the end zone, Jacobs placed his hands behind his back before bringing them forward. Williams then joined him and simulated breaking the chains around his wrists.

Those movements became the focus of controversy. ChurchLeaders reported that some viewers interpreted the celebration as a reference to an arrest. Jacobs subsequently offered a different explanation, pointing to the gospel song as the inspiration for the sequence.

Speaking with reporters in the locker room following the Packers' reported victory, Jacobs said the celebration was something he and Williams had developed together. In his account, the teammate's chain-breaking motion supplied the meaning behind the opening gesture.

"Break Every Chain" centers on the power of Jesus' name to bring freedom. Its central image gives the celebration an explicitly Christian frame: restraints are broken through divine power. For viewers familiar with the song, the completed sequence could communicate that message, although the initial pose alone left room for other interpretations.

The distinction between the opening movement and the full celebration is central to Jacobs' explanation. Hands held behind the back could suggest confinement; Williams' subsequent action turned the sequence into a portrayal of release. According to the ChurchLeaders account, Jacobs wanted reporters to understand those movements together.

The report also placed the touchdown within Jacobs' return to competition, describing the Panthers matchup as his second game back. ChurchLeaders listed his performance as 21 carries for 39 yards and a touchdown, along with six receptions for 13 yards.

Beyond those numbers, the celebration brought a gospel song into the conversation surrounding the game. It also illustrated the difficulty of communicating a specific message through a few seconds of movement: viewers saw the gesture before hearing the explanation behind it.

Jacobs' reported response identifies the message he intended to convey. He attributed the celebration to "Break Every Chain" and to a shared plan with Williams to express their faith on the field.