Chargers' Justin Herbert catches some national shade in NFL season preview

Justin Herbert quickly established himself as the Los Angeles Chargers' franchise quarterback, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 with 4,336 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He has since solidified his status as a top-ten quarterback in the league, though his career has been marked by a lack of playoff success.

Herbert has appeared in the playoffs twice with the Chargers, both resulting in losses: a historic collapse against the Jacksonville Jaguars and a blowout defeat to the Houston Texans. Competing in the same division as the consistently successful Kansas City Chiefs adds further pressure, making the 2025 season critical for Herbert and the team to deliver immediate results.

In Sports Illustrated's rankings of the 60 most influential players, Herbert was placed 23rd but faced criticism for lacking a signature positive moment, with his playoff failures highlighted instead. The article questioned whether he can lead the Chargers to playoff success and surpass his modest previous season stats of 3,870 yards and 23 touchdowns.

The critique was countered by noting Herbert's numbers were affected by a run-first offensive system in his first year under Greg Roman. With new weapons around him, he is expected to improve statistically. The Chargers and Herbert aim to silence doubts and prove their competitiveness as soon as possible.