Chargers HC Harbaugh: Herbert is 'truly one of the best ever'

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) talks to head coach Jim Harbaugh. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh: Justin Herbert is 'truly one of the best ever'

By Steve Miller | Last updated Feb 26, 2025 12:44 AM ET

There's pumping up your dudes, and then there's coach busting out a cringe-worthy comment that prompts a moment of "did I just hear that?" among the audience.

In an interview earlier Tuesday with Mike Florio and Chris Simms of NBC's Pro Football Talk, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was busy pointing out how incredibly fortunate he was to coach quarterback Justin Herbert.

Like that person at the grocery store who's looking to tell anyone who'll listen how good the butcher is, Harbaugh offered some impressive exultation of Herbert with, "I've ever quite been around a competitor like him," and "it's like being around greatness every day."

Then it happened.

After prefacing it with a "no doubt in my mind" that Justin Herbert is indeed one of the great quarterbacks in today's game, he shipwrecked alone on an island with Herbert being "truly one of the great quarterbacks of all-time."

In a let-me-be-clear capper, he then doubled down, noting that after just one year with the No. 6 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, he can "confidently" predict as much.

Jim Harbaugh on Justin Herbert:
“I’ve never been around a competitor quite like him. No doubt in my mind he is one of the greatest QBs of all-time”@ProFootballTalk
— Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) February 25, 2025

Naturally, critics were quick to respond, pointing out that Herbert and his Chargers are 0-2 in the playoffs.

While historically blowing a 27-0 cushion is bad enough, adding a four-interception debacle to the mix is more or less the antithesis of GOAT conversation fodder.

To make matters worse, detractors point out that Harbaugh's man-crush became the first ever QB to throw more interceptions in a playoff game (four) than in the regular season (three).

We can extend Harbaugh a mulligan on the homer hype as Herbert is a baller and it's fun to watch him do his thing. His 0.6 interception percentage in 2024 (23 TDs, three INTs) is the second-best ratio ever in NFL history for any QB with at least 450 passing attempts. The potential only needs to be realized at this point.

In 2024, Herbert finished ninth in passing yards with 3,870 and finished 11th with a 64.8 QB Rating.

If Herbert is to build the type of cache Harbaugh believes he's capable of, this team needs an influx of young and explosive talent to help the QB on the offensive side of the ball.

That said, who's on the rumor express? An unofficial mock draft consensus seems to point toward three players: Michigan TE Colston Loveland, Texas WR Matthew Golden and RB Omarion Hampton from North Carolina.

The bottom line is that Harbaugh and the Chargers have their guy in Herbert, but he needs some cattle to go with that big hat.

Steve Miller

I'm married and from upstate Missouri. I have a degree in communications. My favorite sports are MLB, PDC Darts and NHRA drag racing, but I maintain an interest in all American leagues

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