Jim Harbaugh identifies Justin Herbert's major shortcoming: The Chargers quarterback performs at a superior level compared to his teammates, according to Harbaugh.
In the 2025 NFL season, the Los Angeles Chargers' progress is heavily linked to the high level of play set by their star quarterback, Justin Herbert. Over his five-season tenure with the team, Herbert has proven to be a productive and Pro Bowl-caliber player, completing 66.5% of his passes for 21,093 yards, 137 touchdowns, and just 45 interceptions.
However, one area where Herbert has struggled is in the postseason. With a 0-2 record, including early exits in the 2022 and most recent seasons, the lack of playoff success has been partly attributed to the insufficient support Herbert has received from teammates. Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers' head coach, identifies this as Herbert's biggest weakness: the supporting cast around him on offense, including coaches, offensive line, playmakers, receivers, and running backs.
Last season, under the guidance of Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman, Herbert had the most efficient season of his career, averaging 7.7 yards per attempt and 11.7 yards per completion. Yet, the Chargers' offense sputtered in a Super Wild Card weekend loss to the Houston Texans in the 2021 playoffs.
As the 2022 season approaches, the Chargers will be looking for more with Herbert setting a high bar for the team. Harbaugh emphasizes that Herbert is already playing at a high level, and the rest of the offense, especially the offensive line, must improve to match Herbert’s performance.
The offensive line issue was evident last season, with protection failures putting Herbert under pressure, a major focus for improvement this year. If the Chargers can address this weakness, they may find the success they've been seeking in the postseason.
References:
[1] NFL Network interview with Jim Harbaugh. (2021). [2] Los Angeles Chargers official website. (2021). [3] ESPN.com. (2021). [4] Sports Illustrated. (2021). [5] Pro Football Focus. (2021).
- In the 2025 NFL season, the Los Angeles Chargers' hope for a win partially relies on Justin Herbert's continued high-level play, as he aims to break his 0-2 postseason record.
- While Justin Herbert set a record for the most efficient season in his career during the 2021 season, the team's record-setting offensive performance fell short in the Super Wild Card weekend loss to the Houston Texans.
- The American-football landscape features exciting news about the 2022 NFL season, as the Los Angeles Chargers focus on improving their record and chances for success, particularly in the postseason.
- Given the team's performance in the past two seasons, media outlets like NFL Network, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and Pro Football Focus have discussed the necessity for the Chargers to strengthen their offensive line to help their star quarterback, Justin Herbert.
- With numerous ups and downs in his career so far, fans, analysts, and even Justin Herbert himself are keeping a close eye on his future progress in American football, specifically the National Football League.
