If you can’t get the quarterback position right, you don’t really have a shot in the NFL. That may be true in Green Bay with Jordan Love, but is it possible that Josh Jacobs is the most important Packers player?

There’s a case to be made that the Packers offense would’ve been downright woeful in 2024 without Jacobs’ efforts. No running back in the NFL had a higher percentage of yards after contact than he did. His percentage came in at a staggering 78.2%. To put that in perspective, Bijan Robinson was second in the same category at 63.2%.

It was a trend that carried throughout the year and into the playoffs. In Green Bay’s postseason loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Jacobs finished with 81 yards rushing. Of those 81, 74 came after contact, and he forced 12 missed tackles.

The Packers have a solid offensive line, but they could have improved their ground game. If not for the Jacobs’ excellence, they might have drawn more scrutiny.

Putting aside Jacobs’ individual brilliance, the Packers ran the ball 50.6% of the time last year. That was the third-highest clip in the league, trailing only Philadelphia and the Baltimore Ravens. The vast majority of those rushes involved getting the ball to Jacobs and letting him go to work. Jacobs finished sixth in rushing last year and toted the rock the sixth-most among all players. His 15 rushing touchdowns were a career high.

Green Bay won’t be going in the complete opposite direction in 2025. The passing game needs to be better, but Matt LaFleur will lean on Jacobs just as much as he did in 2024. That’s what makes such a strong case for Jacobs being the most important Packer on the field.

Go look at some of the individual games.

The Packers were without Love in a Week 2 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Green Bay threw it a grand total of 14 times in the 16-10 win. Jacobs had 32 rushes for 151 yards and single-handedly kept drives alive. Backup quarterback Malik Willis shined in his role, but if not for Jacobs, Green Bay is staring down the barrel of a loss instead of a win.

In a Week 8 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars that came down to the wire, it was Jacobs’ play that elevated the team. Love exited with an injury, and Green Bay passed it just 27 times total in the game. Meanwhile, Jacobs had 25 carries for 127 yards and two touchdowns. The Packers held off the Jaguars, 30-27.

Even in the playoff loss to the Eagles, Jacobs was the lone bright spot. Love went 20 for 33 for 212 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions. Meanwhile, Jacobs had 81 yards rushing and the lone Packers touchdown and was second on the team with 40 receiving yards..

You need strong quarterback play to get to the top of the mountain in the NFL. There’s no doubt about that. But Green Bay needs Jacobs just as much as anyone.

Running backs coach Ben Sirmans echoed similar thoughts earlier this offseason.

The guy is a dawg, not just the way he carries the ball, but also just his presence. Being around really good running backs, they have a presence about them on the field that kind of permeates throughout the team through their game play as well as when they’re in the locker room. Because besides the quarterback, you’re touching the ball probably more than anybody else out there, so you can affect the emotions of the team more than anybody else. He’s been everything that we would hope for and definitely the engine for us offensively.

Jacobs’ presence on the field is massive, but it’s also vital in the locker room. Aside from his comments made about Green Bay needing a No. 1 wide receiver earlier in the offseason, teammates flock towards Jacobs.

It’s not just teammates.

A big free-agent addition came in the form of left guard Aaron Banks. He noted his excitement in coming to Green Bay to block for Jacobs.

Just watching him on tape, the way he can create in his runs and how physical and downhill he is. I think that the running back plays a big part in the success of the run game – not just O-line but the two together. So, yeah, I was excited to get to block for him.

Free agents wanting to come block for the star running back are noteworthy. A coach referring to the running back as the engine of the offense is noteworthy.

After a banner 2024 season, Jacobs still has one thing in mind, and that’s getting better.

I feel like I had a good year, but I feel like I still left a lot on the table. For me, it’s just trying to come in and chase that No. 1 spot and raise a Super Bowl (trophy) at the end of the day. That’s the only thing that’s really on my mind.

Green Bay needs Love to be solid at the quarterback position to win titles. But there may not be a more important part of the equation for the Packers than Jacobs. The numbers, the testimony, and the blueprints LaFleur runs on offense all back that up.