Former NFL coach compares Chargers' Justin Herbert to Tom Brady

Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers is already one of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL heading into his third season. 

Per ESPN stats, Herbert finished the 2021 campaign second behind only Tampa Bay Buccaneers star signal-caller Tom Brady with 5,014 passing yards. The 24-year-old was also third overall with 38 touchdowns through the air and with a 65.6 total QBR. 

Few have questioned Herbert's arm talent, and Chargers head coach Brandon Staley explained back in June that the third-year pro made "tremendous progress" this past offseason as it pertains to being a locker room leader. For a video shared this week by The 33rd Team, former NFL head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Martz went so far as to compare Herbert to none other than the seven-time Super Bowl champion widely viewed as the G.O.A.T. at the position. 

"Justin is in early in the morning with the coaches. He stays as late as they'll let him. He just wants to be the best quarterback in the National Football League," Martz said while likening Herbert to Brady. "That's just who he is. 

"When you get a guy that has all the talent, there's no flaws to him. When you have that kind of commitment out of him and he's very modest and humble, and yet he's a fiery competitor that has that great skill, there's really nothing that he can't do. And he's young." 

Martz also said that Herbert's accuracy reminds him of what he used to see from Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. 

"He's got great touch, anticipation, he lays the ball out there when he needs to," Martz continued about Herbert. "There's just no quit in this guy." 

Herbert admitted earlier this summer that the Chargers need more all-around "consistency" to make the playoffs for this coming season. His continued improvement both on and off the field could help Los Angeles play more than just a couple of meaningful games in January 2023.