Justin Herbert took some time to reflect on his journey, which has led him to becoming the highest-paid player in NFL history.
The former Oregon Ducks star agreed to a 5-year extension worth $262.5 million earlier in the week, and he spoke with NFL Network regarding the deal at Chargers training camp, giving thanks to everyone who helped make it happen.
“First off, thank you, you know huge thank you to the Charges organization, the Spanos family, (Chargers GM) Tom Telesco, all the people that went into this decision, and I’m so thankful to be a part of it,” explained Herbert. “Kind of like you mentioned, I think the most important thing for me is to have fun. To enjoy football, and realize that we get to play a game for a living.
“You know, our teammates, our coaching staff, all those training members, they’re incredible people, and just being around them is the time of my life, so I’m enjoying every bit of it.”
In addition to being thankful, Herbert also recognized that the guaranteed money is going to make his job that much easier.
“It is huge — you just can relax and play football now,” added Herbert. “You get to play free, you have to play fearless and you get to go play the sport that you’ve grown up playing. I think the first thing that I’m going to have to do is I’m going to have to take care of the team, and Khalil Mack especially.
“He’s been taking care of dinners for the last couple of years. He’s an incredible teammate, and I owe him a couple of dinners. So I’ve got to get on that.”
There’ll be no complaining from Khalil Mack on that front. The Chargers have their quarterback of the present and the future, and good times are ahead in Los Angeles for Justin Herbert.
More on Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Continuing, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley believes Herbert is only scratching the surface of what he can accomplish in the NFL.
“It really brought out the best in him as a player, in terms of the challenges, from an injury standpoint, both upfront and at his skill positions,” Staley said this offseason. “I thought you were really able to discover a lot of the intangibles that make him so special. For his first two years, I think people talk about the tangible — what they can see, the output or production or the style of some of these throws that he can make — but what he really showed were the intangibles that, I think, make him one of the top players in the NFL.
“Him being able to lead our offense, to kind of will us down the stretch to a playoff appearance, I think show you all the growth that he has. He’s just continuing to grow as a player and as a leader on this football team.”
More must-reads: