Justin Herbert: The Superstar That Gets No Recognition
Image Credit: Getty Images
When looking at some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, certain names stand out more than others. Guys like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow all get the credit that they deserve, and rightfully so, but one name is constantly being left out of that group; Justin Herbert.
With a couple of serious injuries over the past two seasons, such as a chest rib fracture and a shoulder labrum tear in 2022, as well as a hand / finger fracture in 2023, it’s easy to forget everything that Herbert has done up to this point. His best season was arguably his rookie year back in 2020, which seems like an eternity ago, but it was one of the most impressive performances by a rookie quarterback ever.
Yes, ever.
In fact, these are just a few of the records that he broke during his 2020-21 campaign:
Most passing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback (31)
Most total touchdowns by a rookie quarterback (36)
Most 300-yard passing games by a rookie quarterback (8)
Most completions by a rookie quarterback (396)
Most games with at least 3 touchdown passes by a rookie (6)
It was no surprise that Herbert ended up winning the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, but that’s one of Herbert’s only trophies so far during his four-year NFL career. Looking at some of the other top quarterback names, Patrick Mahomes already has three Super Bowl rings and two MVP trophies. Lamar Jackson has two MVps, Burrow has won an AFC Championship / has gone to the Super Bowl, and Josh Allen has won his division (AFC East) four years in a row. Herbert, on the other hand, has accomplished none of those things.
While his resumé isn’t the most impressive by any stretch, some people claim that Herbert is a “one season wonder”, or better yet, that he’s “overrated”. Well now let’s take a look at some of the records that he has broken after his rookie year as well, such as the following:
Most passing yards in a quarterback’s first two seasons (9,350)
Most total touchdowns in a quarterback’s first two seasons (77)
First quarterback to record 30 touchdown passes in each of his first two seasons
Most passing yards in a quarterback’s first three seasons (14,089)
Most completions in first 50 games (1,316)
Most pass completions per game, career (26.0)
Most consecutive seasons of 4,000 passing yards to begin a career (3)
So while a lot of people want to ridicule him for not having the awards, or that he only played well in his first year, the stats say something different. However, there is a little truth behind the argument that Herbert is not in the same tier as the other four quarterbacks that were mentioned. In his first four seasons with the team, Herbert has a 30-32 record and has only ever made the playoffs one time; which was when the Chargers blew a 27-point lead to the Jacksonville Jaguars. While the outcome was ultimately a team loss, Herbert didn’t do much in that game, leading to a lot of criticism. Looking at this fairly, the same thing could be said about Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, as their teams are always competing for a championship but never seem to get it done; that’s on those two guys as well.
Image Credit: Los Angeles Times
The difference between Herbert and those two quarterbacks, would be the supporting cast that they have around them. Josh Allen played in an offense where Stefon Diggs was the “go to” guy. Lamar Jackson has had John Harbaugh as a head coach, which allows him to run some of the “quarterback friendly” plays that have won him the MVP trophy twice. Justin Herbert has had none of that.
Wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams (when healthy) were fantastic pieces on offense, as well as running back Austin Ekeler. With a lackluster defense and a horrendous head coach in Brandon Staley, Herbert was never able to pull his team to more victories. So while his individual stats may look excellent on paper, his team is never competing for a Super Bowl; unlike the other top end quarterbacks.
That leaves some hope for the future of the Chargers, and Herbert’s career, as this team is getting newly rebuilt. Los Angeles fired Brandon Staley during the regular season last year, and they were able to fill that role with former University of Michigan Head Coach, Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh should be able to draw up the same game plan that his brother uses for Lamar Jackson over in Baltimore. He always loved making the quarterback’s life a little easier by utilizing running backs and “developing QBs properly” while at Michigan; which is why the school ended up winning the National Championship under J.J. McCarthy.
Herbert’s best receiver in Keenan Allen was traded to the Chicago Bears this offseason, and Mike Williams went to play for the New York Jets; so the odds are stacked against Herbert at the moment. However, that isn’t to say that the Chargers didn’t do anything to replace those two guys. Joshua Palmer should be a “safety blanket”, Quentin Johnston is a former first-round pick who is due to breakout, and the team just drafted Ladd McConkey with the 34th pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
So while many say that Herbert has nothing to work with, that’s simply not true. Now that Los Angeles drafted offensive tackle, Joe Alt, with the No. 5 pick in the draft, the Chargers have quietly built one of the best offensive lines in football to protect their franchise quarterback. Everyone understands how talented Herbert is, so with even more time given to throw, he should be making more “big time” plays than he has in previous seasons; a scary thought.
Justin Herbert is not going to be competing for a Super Bowl, or even the top spot in the AFC West, which is reserved for Patrick Mahomes; that much is clear. That’s not to say that the Chargers can’t be a playoff team this year, especially under a new head coach and, what many hope to be, an extremely good offensive line. Herbert is going to make plays for his receivers, which is what any good quarterback in this league does. Wins will start to come this team’s way eventually, as long as they keep building around their most valuable asset.
He is the fourth highest paid quarterback in the NFL, and for good reason. The Chargers realize what they have, and that is arguably a top five QB. If the team doesn’t start winning games very soon, it might not be long before Herbert wants out, and the Chargers will have to do everything in their power to make sure that doesn’t happen.
If Herbert can consistently bring the Chargers to the playoffs, his name will inevitably be mentioned in the same conversation as those other four guys; which might be sooner than later.