The Greatest Stretch of Justin Herbert’s Career

Justin Herbert is living a moment that many athletes only dream of. The Los Angeles Chargers, under his exceptional leadership, have blasted out of the gates with a perfect 3-0 start to the season, instantly catapulting them into the conversation as legitimate contenders. This isn’t just a strong start; it’s a dominant statement. All three of their victories have come against AFC West rivals, meaning they’ve already conquered their entire division in the opening weeks. It’s an unprecedented display of power and precision, and for a franchise that has long battled to find its footing, it’s a sign that a new, more promising era is finally dawning.

Herbert’s ascendancy isn’t confined to the gridiron. His on-field heroics are now intertwined with a fascinating off-field narrative that suggests he is, for all intents and purposes, unstoppable in every aspect of his life. This combination of athletic dominance and personal contentment creates an aura of a star who is truly coming into his own, ready to face and conquer any challenge that comes his way. For the Chargers, a team with a history of heart-wrenching ups and downs, Herbert represents a beacon of hope and a legitimate reason for their loyal but long-suffering fanbase to finally believe.

Echoes of the Past: From Drew Brees to Philip Rivers

A 3-0 start is not a common occurrence for the Chargers. In fact, the last time the team achieved such an impressive feat was all the way back in 2002, with a young Drew Brees at the helm. That season was Brees’s first as the starting quarterback for the Chargers, following a rookie year spent learning behind veteran Doug Flutie. While the 3-0 start was a promising sign for the franchise’s future at the quarterback position, the season ultimately fell short of expectations, evening out to a disappointing 8-8 record. Brees would only lead the team to the playoffs a single time in his four years as the starter, a 12-4 campaign in 2004 that ended in a Wild Card loss to the New York Jets, despite Brees being named Comeback Player of the Year.

After Brees’s departure to the New Orleans Saints before the 2006 season, Philip Rivers took over as the franchise’s cornerstone. Rivers, who had been patiently waiting in the wings for two seasons, launched a four-year stretch that remains the most successful in the team’s history this century. In his first year as the starter, the Chargers went a remarkable 14-2, only to lose to the Patriots in the Divisional Round. The next year, they advanced to the AFC Championship but again lost to the Patriots, marking only the fourth time in franchise history they had reached that stage and the first since their 1994 Super Bowl run. Rivers’s tenure was defined by consistent success, but also by recurring heartbreak, especially in the playoffs against a familiar foe.

The Rivers Era: A Career of Excellence and Playoff Pain

Philip Rivers’s career with the Chargers was a masterclass in individual greatness often overshadowed by collective playoff disappointment. Time and again, his team would fall short on the biggest stage, with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots serving as the constant, insurmountable obstacle. The narrative of Rivers’s career is punctuated by playoff losses to the Patriots at the beginning, middle, and end of his tenure, a testament to Brady’s dominance but also a heavy burden for Rivers and the Chargers’ fanbase.

Following their highly successful four-year stretch, the Chargers would only make the postseason once in the next eight years, a solid 9-7 season in 2013 where Rivers won Comeback Player of the Year. It was during this period that the Chargers also made their significant move from San Diego to Los Angeles. Rivers had one more chance at a playoff run in 2018 with a strong 12-4 team that many believed was his last shot at a Super Bowl. They beat the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round but, in a familiar and painful twist, lost to the Patriots in the next round. These losses, though agonizing, became part of the franchise’s story, setting a formidable and challenging backdrop for the next generation of quarterbacks.

Justin Herbert: The Next in Line, the One to Break the Curse?

When Rivers retired after the 2019 season, the Chargers were faced with the monumental task of finding a new franchise quarterback. The 2020 NFL Draft was stacked with quarterback talent, with Joe Burrow going first overall. With the sixth pick, the Chargers had their chance. After the Miami Dolphins surprisingly selected Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth pick, the Chargers pounced, selecting Justin Herbert. While Jordan Love and Jalen Hurts were also picked in the same draft, the Chargers’ decision has proven to be an inspired one.

Herbert, a four-year starter at Oregon, was a highly-regarded prospect. He began his rookie season as the backup to veteran Tyrod Taylor. However, fate intervened in Week 2 in a now-infamous and “insane” situation where a team doctor accidentally punctured Taylor’s lung, thrusting Herbert into the starting role against the Kansas City Chiefs. Herbert played a solid NFL debut, throwing for 311 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for another. Though the Chargers ultimately lost in overtime, the performance was a clear sign of what was to come.

A Historic Rookie Season and Continued Progression

That was just the beginning. Herbert went on to have one of the greatest rookie seasons in NFL history. He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year, setting a rookie record with 28 passing touchdowns and throwing for over 4,000 yards with just 10 interceptions. He also added five rushing touchdowns. Despite his individual brilliance, the Chargers finished the season with a 6-9 record, leading to the firing of head coach Anthony Lynn.

The next season, Herbert avoided the dreaded “sophomore slump,” instead raising his game to another level. He recorded a career-high 38 touchdowns and 5,014 passing yards, though he also threw 15 interceptions. The Chargers improved their record to 9-8. In 2022, the team finally returned to the playoffs with a 10-7 record. However, they faced a devastating and memorable defeat in the Wild Card round against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who mounted a stunning 27-point comeback to win 31-30 in what was dubbed a “Brandon Staley masterclass” of collapse.

The Harbaugh Era and a Glimmer of Hope

In 2023, despite Herbert’s respectable numbers (20 touchdowns and only seven interceptions), the Chargers had a disastrous 5-12 season. This led to Staley’s in-season firing and the highly anticipated hiring of Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh, fresh off a national championship with Michigan and with a successful history coaching in the NFL, brought a new wave of hope and credibility to the franchise.

Under Harbaugh, Herbert had what many would consider his most efficient season yet. He threw for 23 touchdowns and 3,870 yards with only three interceptions—only the second time in his career he has had fewer than 10. Herbert also ran for a career-high 306 yards. The team looked impressive, finishing with an 11-6 record, the best since Rivers’s last playoff run. But the familiar story of playoff heartache continued with a loss to Houston in the Wild Card round.

The Road Ahead: A New Narrative Begins

Despite all his regular-season brilliance, Justin Herbert still lacks a playoff victory. While Patrick Mahomes sits on the mountaintop and Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen vie for the second spot, Herbert has yet to enter that elite conversation. But as the saying goes, it only takes one year to change everything.

The Chargers’ schedule this season was brutal, with all three AFC West games to open the season. Their first matchup was a neutral-site game against the Chiefs in Brazil. The Chargers came out hot, jumping to an early 10-point lead. Quentin Johnston, who had struggled to start his career, has been surprisingly good this season, and he scored his second touchdown to give the Chargers a nine-point lead with five minutes left. That victory was a statement, with Herbert tossing three touchdowns.

In Week 2, the Chargers faced an easier matchup on the road against the Raiders. Johnston scored another touchdown, and Keenan Allen caught a touchdown for the second consecutive week. Allen’s return has been crucial, with him proving how important he is to the offense. The Chargers took care of business, winning 20-9 to move to 2-0.

Week 3 brought a back-and-forth battle at home against the Broncos. The Chargers raced to a 10-0 lead with an Omarian Hampton touchdown. The Broncos twice took a touchdown lead, but the Chargers refused to quit. Justin Herbert found Keenan Allen for a 20-yard touchdown to tie the game with 2:37 remaining. Cameron Dicker then drilled a 43-yard field goal to win it 23-20.

It has been one heck of a start for the Chargers, and Justin Herbert deserves the lion’s share of the credit. He has looked phenomenal, with 860 passing yards (the most in the league), six touchdowns, and just one interception. Johnston and Allen have been his top targets, and Omarian Hampton has been the lead back. The narratives around Herbert’s career are already changing, and a playoff win would solidify his place among the league’s elite. Combined with his remarkable personal life, this truly is the best stretch of his career, and it might just be the one that finally rewrites the story of the Chargers forever.