Jim Harbaugh calls Justin Herbert the toughest quarterback in NFL history

Harbaugh is now coaching a quarterback he believes is tougher than he was in Justin Herbert. On Monday, Harbaugh gave his rankings of who he finds to be the two toughest quarterbacks of all time.

"I've always considered myself the toughest quarterback in the history of the National Football League. Being around Justin Herbert, I have moved to No. 2 in the rankings. Justin Herbert is the toughest quarterback in the history of the National Football League," Harbaugh said. "There's my own personal ranking, and it's my right to have my own personal ranking."

Because Herbert stands at 6-foot-6, 236 pounds, defenders have to give it their all to get him down which sometimes leads to late hits and big hits. Harbaugh compared how defenses go after Herbert to how NBA players would foul 7-foot-1, 325-pound Shaquille O'Neal.

"It's become, like, Hack-a-Shaq. Remember, remember the old Shaq days and they just hacked him? [Herbert is] so big and he's so tough to get on the ground," Harbaugh explained. "The ball's thrown and it could be the ball's 10 yards downfield and there's still somebody trying to wrestle and grapple him to the ground. He gets hit when he goes out of bounds. He gets hit in the head. He gets facemasked during the play. It's incredible."

What's also incredible is Herbert's productivity lately as a passer. Per PFF, Herbert is the highest-graded player in the NFL across all positions in the last two weeks, with an astounding grade of 95. After an ankle injury that had Herbert at less than 100 percent earlier in the season, Herbert and the passing offense have started to hit their stride. Herbert has thrown for 1,725 yards this season with 10 passing touchdowns, just one interception and a 65 percent completion rate. 

"There's nobody better, there's nobody," Harbaugh said. "Lamar [Jackson] is playing really good, and I think those two are playing at a really high level right now, and some others. But I don't think anybody's playing better than Justin Herbert is."

Herbert and the 5-3 Chargers will next play at home against the 2-6 Tennessee Titans.