Justin Herbert is 0-3 in the playoffs and 0-2 in Jim Harbaugh‘s tenure. Herbert threw 4 interceptions in Harbaugh’s postseason as the Los Angeles Chargers head coach and put up just 3 points in last season’s playoff defeat to the New England Patriots.
Despite back-to-back playoff disappointments, Herbert enters the 2026 season as one of the favorites to win the NFL MVP. Ahead of the Chargers ‘ opening-day fixture against the Arizona Cardinals, Harbaugh hyped Herbert up with a massive announcement.
When his career comes to end, I predict [Justin Herbert] will be known as the best ever to play the position of quarterback.
Jim Harbaugh said on the White House show with Michael Irvin
The Chargers drafted Herbert 6th overall. He won the Offensive Rookie Award in 2020 and a Pro Bowl the following year.
Harbaugh took over as the Chargers’ head coach in 2024. Herbert went 11-6 in the regular season and finished with the league’s best touchdown-to-interception ratio of 0.6 (23 touchdowns compared to just 3 interceptions).
The playoffs were a different story. The Houston Texans .Herbert had a career-low 43.8% completion percentage and a career-low passer rating of 40.9 as the Chargers lost 32-12.
Earlier in the year, the Chargers played the AFC second seed, the Patriots. Herbert went 19 of 31 passes for 159 yards with no touchdowns, was sacked six times, and lost a fumble.
The Chargers fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Shortly after, they hired Mike McDaniel, who was laid off by the Dolphins. McDaniel had Tua Tagovailoaplaying at a very high level for a few years before he suffered multiple concussions. The Chargers hired McDaniel to unleash Herbert’s full potential. Herbert and McDaniel quickly established a good rapport in the offseason.
I always thought it was a great fit with Justin. Both those guys are so smart, and it’s even better than I thought. We can talk about all the football reasons, and that’s really why it’s a great fit.
Jim Harbaugh said via Chargers.com
Fans will get a glimpse of this pairing when the Chargers host the Cardinals in Week one.
Recently,Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated revealed his top NFL quarterbacks list for the 2026 season. Herbert ranked sixth, just below the likes of Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, but ahead of Dak Prescottand last season’s Super Bowl finalist Drake Maye.
Breer compiled the list after consulting several NFL executives and coaches. Mike McDaniel’s presence has made them .
It feels to me a little like how NFL folks looked at Stafford when he was in Detroit. But this could be the year he really breaks through. One VP ranked him second and texted, ‘[Mike] McDaniel will push him to the next level. The team is stacked, and with better injury luck, they’ll go far.
Breer wrote
Herbert still needs to show up during the season. He will have a stacked offensive line this year. Both left, and right tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt have recovered from their injuries. Veterans Cole Strange and Kayode Awosika are expected to fill the two guard positions.
The only downside in that front five is the center. The Chargers signed experienced offensive lineman Tyler Biadasz to a three-year, $30-million contract in the offseason. However, on August 23, Biadasz was placed on season-ending injured reserve after sustaining significant damage to his ACL and other knee ligaments during practice. The Chargers are leaning on rookie Jake Slaughter to fill in at center while they search for a veteran in free agency.