Out for more than a Rookie of the Year award, Josh Jacobs wants a Super Bowl

By Case Keefer (contact)

Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020 | 2 a.m.

Josh Jacobs isn’t done house hunting yet.

The Raiders’ running back drew headlines by surprise-purchasing his father a house last month in their native Oklahoma. Now it’s his turn to take care of himself, as he needs to finalize arrangements for a move to Las Vegas before next season.

“I actually go out there next week to get everything arranged,” Jacobs said from Super Bowl radio row Friday afternoon. “I’ve picked out four houses I’m going to view. It’s a lot cheaper out there. California was killing me.”

Jacobs may have preferred to start his trip to Las Vegas sooner, but he didn’t have much of a choice other than to attend the Super Bowl for the second straight year. He’s a finalist for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award at the 2019 NFL Honors, which takes place this evening and airs via tape delay locally at 8 p.m. on Fox.

After rushing for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie season, Jacobs is considered a co-favorite to win the award along with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.  

“It’s not that big of a deal to me,” Jacobs said. “I feel like for my fans and the people I inspire, it would be huge for them. But my ultimate goal is to try and win games and be the team playing in this game. That’s the biggest thing for me.”

Like some of his teammates at last week’s name unveiling, Jacobs believes the Raiders are closer than most perceive. He cited their 7-9 record and a couple close losses late in the season as proof that the first year in Las Vegas could be a memorable one.  

He’s already toured Allegiant Stadium but has yet to see the practice facility beyond “dope” renderings and floorplans. He said that was enough to know that the organization spared no expense and there can be no more excuses for underperformance.

“You can literally feel it,” Jacobs said. “The biggest thing to me is, this rookie class we had this year. We’re going to have to play bigger roles. Not only on the field, where we all did good, but off the field, we’re going to have to put this on ourselves and change the culture, change the dynamic of this team and help the new rookies coming in. That’s the biggest thing I’m trying to do, trying to step into that leader role.”

Jacobs was the most productive of the Raiders’ three first-round picks from a year ago. Defensive end Clelin Ferrell and safety Jonathan Abrams each had their moments, but the former started slow and the latter was lost for the season with a shoulder injury after five games.

The biggest revelation was fourth-round defensive end Maxx Crosby, who racked up 10 sacks and four forced fumbles. Many believed Crosby deserved to be a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year, which 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa is expected to claim at the awards show.

Jacobs sees the whole group forming a “special” core for the relocated Raiders.

“I know we’re going to make a big step,” Jacobs said. “That’s our goal this year. Find the little things we did wrong, put those things together and try to come together as a team and have a new mindset. The Raider standard is what we call it. We’re trying to get back to that dynasty we used to be.”

One thing Jacobs doesn’t want to change is the quarterback. He’s heard the Tom Brady free-agent rumblings, and he doesn’t appreciate them.

Jacobs credits incumbent Derek Carr as a big reason for his successful first season.

“He’s probably one of the smartest quarterbacks I’ve ever met, when it comes to football, he’s the ultimate student of the game,” Jacobs said. “He taught me to look at things from a quarterback’s point of view like never before, whether it’s reading defensive concepts, looking at the safety rotation, knowing what the line is supposed to do, what routes the receivers are supposed to run. He knows it all so well. He made me think differently and I thank him for that. I tell him all the time.”

Jacobs is following Carr’s lead in another regard as it pertains to the Super Bowl. Asked last week for his prediction on Sunday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, Carr scoffed.

“I never do that,” Carr said. “I hope they both lose.”

Jacobs was more diplomatic but reiterated that while it’s mostly fun being at the Super Bowl, it’s also painful not being one of the teams at the center of the spectacle. The only trophy that holds any personal significance to him is the Lombardi Trophy.

His career objective will be to help bring it to Las Vegas, which is a few days away from officially becoming his new home.

“The facility is in Henderson and that area seems up and coming,” Jacobs said. “A lot of players are staying around there because it’s all right there. That’s probably the area I’m going to stay in too.”  

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.