Justin Herbert is Done as a Los Angeles Charger

The Chargers at 0-6: Herbert Cannot Be Exempt From Accountability

A team coming off double-digit wins and a playoff appearance is now 0-6. Against those expectations, this is an extraordinary collapse.

Is it the biggest in NFL history? That is a debate, not an established ranking.

The Chargers also opened 0-6 in 2000, when Jim Harbaugh was their quarterback. Now Harbaugh is leading the team from the sideline.

The Numbers Explain the Frustration

• 59.4 percent completions for the season.
• 1,141 passing yards.
• Five touchdown passes and eight interceptions.
• 33rd in QBR.

His most recent game he had a 59.5 percent completion performance with 204 passing yards and an interception. Those are not the results expected from a quarterback regularly discussed among the league’s elite.

Franchise quarterbacks must remain part of the solution when the situation around them deteriorates. He compared Herbert’s struggles with Burrow’s 2024 season, when Cincinnati missed the playoffs at 9-8 but Burrow still played at an exceptional individual level.

That does not make Herbert responsible for every problem. Injuries, protection, receivers, coaching, and scheme all matter. It does mean those problems cannot remove the quarterback from the evaluation.

Justin Herbert’s Leadership Is In Question…

Herbert’s postgame demeanor was undoubtedtly concerning. He wanted to see a quarterback projecting ownership and a way forward, not frustration that could be interpreted as resignation.

We should be careful here. A press conference cannot tell us everything happening inside a locker room, and none of us knows every conversation Herbert is having with teammates or coaches.

The useful question is what happens next. Does his decision-making improve? Do the unnecessary sacks and bad interceptions decrease? Can he help the offense find dependable answers?

Herbert still has extreme physical talent, pointing to a deep throw made while moving left. But a spectacular throw is not the same thing as sustained franchise-quarterback performance. Athletic ability has to become consistent winning football.

Changing the Coordinator May Be Only the First Step

Mike McDaniel is the first coaching change to expect.

Beyond that, the Chargers need to decide whether this is a damaged contender or a roster requiring a broader rebuild. Derwin James was one potential trade name raised, strictly as speculation.

A full reset may eventually be necessary. One should expect Herbert to remain next year, but wonders whether a change of scenery becomes the answer if the same problems continue.

My concern is similar: at some point, changing coaches repeatedly cannot be the entire plan. The players and the way the team is constructed have to enter the conversation.

Looking at Herbert and the Chargers, the vibe seems completely off, and there will be loyalty and mindsets truly tested this game.