Justin Herbert

Justin Herbert is the starting quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers. Before his NFL career, Herbert played at the University of Oregon, where he became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the Ducks since 1983 and set school career records for completions and pass attempts. He concluded his college tenure by leading the team to a Pac-12 Championship and earning MVP honors at the Rose Bowl, establishing himself as a top NFL prospect.

Herbert's entry into the NFL began under unique circumstances. Selected sixth overall by the Chargers in the NFL Draft, he made his first career start in the second game of the season after the team's starting quarterback was sidelined by injury. In that debut, Herbert became only the third player in NFL history to pass for at least 300 yards and rush for a touchdown in his first career game. He went on to break the NFL rookie record for most touchdown passes in a season, finishing with 4,336 passing yards and 31 touchdowns. Herbert was named the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and earned a spot on the NFL All-Rookie Team, quickly establishing himself as a franchise quarterback.

Herbert continued to set NFL records in subsequent seasons. He surpassed Andrew Luck's record for the most passing yards in a quarterback's first two seasons and broke Dan Marino's record for the most total touchdowns in a quarterback's first two seasons. In his second season, Herbert became the first quarterback in Chargers history to throw for at least 5,000 yards in a single season, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. He later became the fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach 13,000 career passing yards, achieving the milestone in just 44 games. Herbert also set an NFL record for single-game completion percentage with a minimum of 40 attempts, completing 40 of 47 passes for an 85.1 percent completion rate in one game.

Herbert signed a five-year, $262.5 million contract extension, making him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in NFL history. He has appeared on the NFL Top 100 Players list for five consecutive seasons, reflecting his standing among peers. Under head coach Jim Harbaugh, Herbert posted a 23-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio, ranking among the best single-season marks in NFL history for qualifying quarterbacks, while also setting career highs in rushing yards. He joined Peyton Manning as one of only two players in NFL history to surpass 20,000 career passing yards within their first five seasons.

Herbert's career is marked by record-setting statistics, multiple Pro Bowl selections, and a reputation for work ethic and leadership. With the Chargers building an offense to maximize his skill set, Herbert remains a central figure in NFL quarterback discussions and a key player in the league's ongoing evolution.