JOSH JACOBS
Mixed (African American and Filipino)
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Josh Jacobs — heritage & background
Quick answer: Josh Jacobs is of mixed African American and Filipino heritage. His father, Marty Jacobs, is African American, and Josh's Filipino ancestry comes through his paternal grandmother, Margerita, who was a native of Angeles City in the Philippines. Jacobs has spoken publicly about his Filipino heritage and is one of the most prominent Filipino Americans in professional football.
Is Josh Jacobs Mixed Race? Is He Biracial?
Yes, Josh Jacobs is biracial and mixed race. He was born to an African American father, Marty Jacobs, and a Filipino American mother, Lachelle Jacobs, making him of Black and Filipino heritage. This dual background places him in a unique position as one of the very few Filipino Americans who have achieved prominence in the NFL — a league historically dominated by African American and white players.
Josh Jacobs has embraced both sides of his heritage publicly and with visible pride. He carries a tattoo of his late Filipino grandmother, Margerita, on the back of his left palm — a deeply personal tribute to the woman whose journey from the Philippines helped shape his family's identity in America. He also has a tattoo of the Philippines' eight-rayed golden-yellow sun on his left bicep, and has been photographed wearing Philippines flag stickers on his helmet during Pro Bowl events.
What Is Josh Jacobs's Ethnicity?
Josh Jacobs was born on February 11, 1998, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Marty and Lachelle Jacobs. His ethnic heritage combines two distinct cultural and geographic backgrounds: African American roots reaching back to the American South, and Filipino roots connecting him to the Philippine archipelago in Southeast Asia.
The African American community in Tulsa carries a historically significant story — the city was home to the Greenwood District, known as "Black Wall Street," one of the most prosperous Black communities in American history before the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. While Jacobs' specific family history within Tulsa is not fully documented, his African American heritage is part of a broader tradition of resilience and community in the region.
His Filipino heritage comes from his paternal grandmother Margerita, who emigrated from Angeles City, a city in Pampanga province on the Philippine island of Luzon. Angeles City has historically been a significant hub in the Philippines, known for its proximity to Clark Air Base. The migration of Filipinos to the United States in the 20th century brought communities to states across the country, including Oklahoma.
Josh Jacobs grew up in difficult circumstances. After his parents divorced when he was around eight years old, his father Marty gained custody of Josh and his siblings, and the family endured a period of homelessness in which they lived out of a Suburban vehicle. Marty worked multiple jobs in warehouses and shipping, sometimes going without food himself to ensure his children were fed. This background of hardship and perseverance became central to Josh Jacobs's personal narrative and motivation as an athlete.
He attended McLain High School in Tulsa, played college football at the University of Alabama, and was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the first round (24th overall pick) of the 2019 NFL Draft. He went on to become one of the premier running backs in the league, signing a four-year, $48 million deal with the Green Bay Packers in March 2024 and earning Pro Bowl recognition in his first season with the team in 2024.
Father's Side: African American Heritage
Josh Jacobs's father, Marty Jacobs, is African American. He grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and raised Josh and his siblings largely on his own following his divorce from Lachelle. Despite periods of extreme financial hardship — including homelessness — Marty Jacobs has been consistently described by Josh as the most important figure in his life.
Marty Jacobs's family history as an African American from Tulsa, Oklahoma, connects Josh to the broader African American experience in the American Midwest and South — a heritage of resilience, community, and survival in the face of systemic adversity. Josh has spoken repeatedly about his father's sacrifices and has said that much of his professional drive is motivated by wanting to provide a better life for his family.
Significantly, it is through Marty Jacobs's own mother — Josh's paternal grandmother — that the Filipino heritage enters the family. Marty's mother, Margerita, was from Angeles City, Philippines, making Marty himself part Filipino. This means Josh Jacobs's Filipino ancestry flows through his father's side, not his mother's.
Mother's Side: Filipino American Heritage
Josh Jacobs's mother, Lachelle Jacobs, is Filipino American. She and Marty Jacobs divorced when Josh was approximately eight years old, and Josh was subsequently raised primarily by his father. The details of Lachelle Jacobs's specific Filipino regional background are not publicly documented.
The Filipino American community in the United States is among the largest Asian American communities in the country. Filipino immigration to America accelerated significantly after the Philippines became a U.S. territory following the Spanish-American War of 1898, and continued through the 20th century, particularly after the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 removed barriers to Asian immigration. Many Filipino Americans settled in states beyond California and Hawaii, including communities in the Midwest.
Josh Jacobs's pride in his Filipino roots is expressed not just through his tattoos but through his public statements. At the Pro Bowl, he said: "It's definitely big, man. Just because my grandma growing up and my dad kept us along with the culture out there and let us understand where we come from and things like that. With not a lot of us in professional sports and things like that, it's good to be a prominent advocate for who we are and what we believe in."
Grandparents: A Complete Picture
| Grandparent | Heritage |
|---|---|
| Paternal Grandfather | [Not publicly known] — African American |
| Paternal Grandmother | Margerita — from Angeles City, Philippines |
| Maternal Grandfather | [Not publicly known] — Filipino American |
| Maternal Grandmother | [Not publicly known] — Filipino American |
Josh Jacobs's paternal grandmother, Margerita, is the most documented grandparent in his public story. She emigrated from Angeles City in the Philippines and became a foundational figure in the Jacobs family's cultural identity. Josh carries her portrait tattooed on the back of his left hand as a permanent tribute to her memory and her influence on who he is as a man.
DNA & Genetic Ancestry
Josh Jacobs has not publicly taken or shared results from DNA ancestry tests such as 23andMe or AncestryDNA as of 2026. He has not appeared on "Finding Your Roots" or "Who Do You Think You Are?" Based on documented family history — an African American father whose mother was from the Philippines, and a Filipino American mother — his genetic ancestry is a blend of African and Filipino heritage. Without a confirmed DNA test, this determination is based on his verified genealogy rather than genetic testing.
Nationality vs. Ethnicity
Josh Jacobs's nationality is American. He was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and holds U.S. citizenship by birth. His nationality is straightforward and undivided.
His ethnicity, however, is dual: African American and Filipino. Ethnicity encompasses ancestry, heritage, and cultural identity — and in Josh Jacobs's case, this means belonging to both the African American cultural tradition rooted in Black American history and the Filipino cultural tradition connected to the Philippines. His pride in both identities — expressed through his tattoos, his helmet stickers, and his public statements — demonstrates that he does not view these as competing identities but as complementary parts of a whole.
Josh Jacobs in His Own Words
At the Pro Bowl, Josh Jacobs spoke directly about what his Filipino heritage means to him: "It's definitely big, man. Just because my grandma growing up and my dad kept us along with the culture out there and let us understand where we come from and things like that. With not a lot of us in professional sports and things like that, it's good to be a prominent advocate for who we are and what we believe in."
He has also described his paternal grandmother Margerita — whose portrait he had tattooed on his hand — as an enduring symbol of where his family comes from. In a Sports Illustrated interview, he pointed to the tattoo and said: "My grandma was from the Philippines — this is her right here."
Relationships and Children
Josh Jacobs has not publicly confirmed a spouse or children as of 2026. He remains focused on his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers. His family narrative is dominated by his tight bond with his father Marty and his siblings, who faced homelessness and hardship together and who Josh has cited as the driving motivation behind his professional ambition.
Is Josh Jacobs Alive?
Yes, Josh Jacobs is alive as of 2026. Born February 11, 1998, he is 28 years old and in the prime of his NFL career as a running back for the Green Bay Packers. In the 2024 season he rushed for 1,329 yards and scored a career-high 15 rushing touchdowns, earning Pro Bowl selection.
Visual Family Tree
Josh Jacobs (African American and Filipino)
Marty Jacobs (African American — Filipino ancestry through his mother)
[Paternal Grandfather — Not publicly known] (African American) · Margerita (from Angeles City, Philippines)
Lachelle Jacobs (Filipino American)
[Maternal Grandfather — Not publicly known] (Filipino American) · [Maternal Grandmother — Not publicly known] (Filipino American)
Sources
- Josh Jacobs — Wikipedia
- Josh Jacobs on His Filipino Heritage — Sports Illustrated
- Josh Jacobs Nationality: Filipino-American Heritage — The Bruins Blog
- What Is Josh Jacobs' Ethnicity? — EssentiallySports
- Josh Jacobs — Green Bay Packers Official Site
- Who Are Josh Jacobs's Parents? — EssentiallySports
EthniCelebrity Research Team
Ethnicity & Heritage Writers
Our team specialises in researching and documenting the ethnic backgrounds, nationality, and ancestry of public figures — drawing on genealogical records, interviews, and verified biographical sources.