Hall of Famer spurs Josh Jacobs' career renaissance

Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs. Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Hall of Famer spurs Raiders RB Josh Jacobs' career renaissance

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 10/24/22

Advice and a hug can go a long way.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen was waiting for running back Josh Jacobs after the Raiders defeated the Texans on Sunday, 38-20. He gave Jacobs, who had scored three TDs, a hug, per ESPN's Paul Guiterrez.

"He didn't tell me he was coming," Jacobs said in a postgame news conference. "But right after the game, I talked to him. We had a ... conversation in the hallway."

“It's been huge.”@iAM_JoshJacobs on learning from the great @MarcusAllenHOF pic.twitter.com/7fBWK7dOm7
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 24, 2022

Allen starred for the Raiders from 1982-92. He serves as a mentor for Jacobs, who under the HOFer's tutelage has vaulted his game to another level.

Through seven weeks, Jacobs is third in the league in rushing yards. In Sunday's victory, he surpassed Allen's team record for most rushing yards in a player's first 50 career games.

In his 49th career game, RB Josh Jacobs has now surpasses Marcus Allen (3,688) for the most rushing yards in franchise history in a player's first 50 career games.
— Raiders PR (@RAIDERS_PR) October 23, 2022

Jacobs attributes his success to the advice and encouragement he has received from Allen.

"To be able to take the time, and you know, mentor me and talk to me about things he's seeing ... it's been huge for me," Jacobs said.

Allen is helping Jacobs salvage his career. In 2021, he failed to rush for 1,000 yards for the first time in four seasons. Some speculated he was on the trading block because the Raiders declined to pick up his fifth-year option.

Jacobs, the heartbeat of the offense this season, scored two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter Sunday as the Raiders improved to 2-4.