To many, Justin Herbert is Philip Rivers 2.0. He’s been able to put up numbers and deliver some spectacular plays at a level just enough to be taken seriously around the NFL. However, at the end of the day, his ceiling is only getting clearer.
The lack of playoff success is starting to count against the quarterback, and when Jim Harbaugh joined the organization, Chargers fans hoped Herbert could finally get his moment. Harbaugh has put that pressure on himself.
Jim Harbaugh’s Lofty Goal for Justin Herbert
Speaking on the “Rich Eisen Show” on May 2 via the official NFL and Chargers websites, Harbaugh declared his goal for Herbert and for himself.
“I woke up the other day and said, ‘I got to get Justin Herbert to the Hall of Fame. Must get Justin Herbert to the Hall of Fame,'” Harbaugh said. “It’s one of those things you wake up at 3:30, 4 in the morning. Sometimes, that’s when your best ideas come.
“You kind of process that, that would mean winning a couple of Super Bowls, and a lot of people would benefit from that,” he added. “That’s a worthy goal, and I think it’s necessary we get him surrounded with as many good football players to his level as possible.”
The Chargers’ biggest free agency moves were arguably adding Najee Harris to replace J.K. Dobbins, letting Joey Bosa walk out the door, and adding five offensive players in the 2025 NFL Draft, including running back Omarion Hampton and wide receiver Tre Harris with their first two picks. They had the 17th-best PFSN metrics rating in 2024, so their additions hope to kick them up the leaderboard.
Herbert and Harbaugh’s Biggest Roadblocks to Achieving Greatness
The Chargers’ head coach has lofty goals, and after he helped Los Angeles go from 5-12 to 11-6 in 2024, the team has momentum on their side. However, sprinting at a brick wall can be dangerous, and that’s the situation the Chargers face in the AFC West.
To get a home game in the playoffs, a prerequisite of most playoff runs, the Chargers will need to outduel Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs not just once or twice, but for an entire season.
They also need to hold off the heating up Las Vegas Raiders armed with Ashton Jeanty, Geno Smith, and Pete Carroll. If they can do that, they’ll need to keep pace with the Denver Broncos, who reached the postseason in 2024.
