The first year of the Jim Harbaugh era was a massive success for the Los Angeles Chargers. Making the playoffs for just the second time with Justin Herbert as their quarterback, the team had an excellent regular season. But their season came to a crashing halt in the playoffs, as Herbert had his worst game of the year, by far.
However, still just 27 and incorporating the system of a new head coach, the potential for growth in Los Angeles is immense. But before the new NFL season gets underway, the legendary collegiate head coach broke down the one area where his quarterback isn’t perfect.
What Is Justin Herbert’s Weakness?
Following the Harbaugh recipe of having an old-school, ground-heavy offense led Herbert to have one of the worst statistical years of his career. Tallying career lows in yards (3,870) and touchdowns (23), barring an injury-depleted 2023 season, he finished 14th on PFSN’s QB+ metric.
However, exchanging some statistics for a playoff spot, the trade-off felt like a fair deal. But going into next season, the expectations are only going to ramp up. Not just making the playoffs, but securing some postseason wins is the next step in the team’s progression.
A legendary figure at the collegiate level, Harbaugh won three straight Big Ten championships and a College Football Playoff national championship in his tenure at Michigan. Now, he’s looking to recreate that magic with Herbert and the Chargers.
During an appearance on the Herd on FS1, Harbaugh wanted his quarterback to remain as he was. “Do not change a thing about Justin Herbert,” he exclaimed. “He does everything great.” Then, he went on to list everything point by point.
“How much he cares? Yeah, he cares deeply. How much he trains? He trains the perfect amount. Everything he does is – Don’t change a thing.” But that does bring one complication for the coaching staff, Harbaugh admitted.
“Our challenge is, the rest of us, especially the ones on the offensive side of the ball that Justin’s counting on – the playmakers, the offensive line, the backs, the tight ends, the coaches, it is our challenge to get to his level.”
“Do not change a thing about Justin Herbert.”@CoachJim4UM tells @colincowherd he’s happy with the Chargers’ star quarterback. pic.twitter.com/YfTX4y5DZM
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 17, 2025
Continuing to wax poetic about the former Pro Bowler, he added, “Because, in my opinion, his biggest weakness is us. We have to be the ones that rise up to his level.” Last year, the offense as a whole for the Chargers was in the bottom half of the league.
Ranking 17th on PFSN’s Offense+ metric, it was a less-than-ideal showing from the unit. However, some of that could have been an overhaul to the unit, with veterans like Keenan Allen departing.
Now, with more adequate pieces on the roster, Harbaugh has to hope that the offense can take another jump and “rise up to his level.”