The Chargers drafted Justin Herbert sixth overall out of Oregon in 2020, hoping the big-armed Duck could eventually carry the franchise to the playoffs and beyond. That breakthrough hasn’t fully arrived yet, but Herbert has settled in as one of the league’s more reliable and productive quarterbacks. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year after throwing for 4,336 yards and 31 touchdowns, then followed it up in 2021 with a Pro Bowl season in which he threw for 5,014 yards and 38 scores—still the high-water mark of his career. Even in seasons that didn’t match those raw numbers, he has consistently kept the Chargers competitive with his combination of arm strength, quick processing, and improving accuracy.

What has stood out in recent years is how cleanly he has handled the ball. After throwing 15 interceptions in that 2021 campaign, he has steadily tightened his decision-making, including a 2024 season in which he was intercepted only three times while still pushing the ball downfield. He has also shown more willingness to use his legs when the pocket collapses, turning designed runs and scrambles into positive gains rather than forcing throws into traffic. The Chargers have yet to win a playoff game with him under center, but the individual production has rarely been the issue.

In 2025, Herbert put together another solid year, throwing for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns while guiding the team to an 11-5 record and a return to the postseason. He earned his second Pro Bowl selection in the process, even as the offensive line dealt with significant injuries that forced him to operate under pressure more often than ideal. He still finished with a completion percentage in the mid-60s and added nearly 500 rushing yards, giving the Chargers another example of how he can carry an offense when the supporting cast is uneven.

The playoff result was the same as before—a loss in the wild-card round—but the regular-season body of work reinforced that Herbert remains the clear franchise quarterback. Through 2025, he has yet to post another 30-touchdown season since his second year, but efficiency gains and a willingness to create with his legs have kept his overall value high. Heading into 2026, the Chargers continue to build around a quarterback who has already shown he can produce at a high level for stretches and who still has room to push the offense further if the pieces around him stabilize.