Herbert became the Chargers' starting quarterback in the second game of his rookie year. He remained the starter for the rest of the season and set several rookie statistical records, including the most touchdown passes and 300-yard games. He was named the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year for his performance. In 2021, he became the first quarterback in Chargers history to throw for over 5,000 yards and was named to his first Pro Bowl. He signed a five-year, $262.5 million contract extension ahead of the 2023 season.
Early life
Herbert was born in Eugene, Oregon, on March 10, 1998, and attended Sheldon High School, where he played football, basketball, and baseball.[1] During the third football game of his junior season, he suffered a broken leg, complicating his recruitment process.[2] As a senior, Herbert passed for 3,130 yards and 37 touchdowns, and rushed for 543 yards and 10 touchdowns.[3] He was named first-team All-State[4] and the Southwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year.[5]Northern Arizona, Portland State, and Montana State extended offers before Nevada and Oregon followed up with his only NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision offers.[2] Herbert committed to Oregon in October 2015.[6] Herbert also co-founded the Sheldon High School Fishing Club while in high school and served as their president.[7]
College career
2016 season
Entering his true freshman season listed as QB2 on the depth chart behind Dakota Prukop,[8] Herbert became the first true freshman at Oregon to start at quarterback since Chris Miller in 1983 when the Ducks took on their arch-rivals, the Washington Huskies, on October 8, 2016.[9] Despite Herbert setting or equaling Oregon's single-game records for total offensive yards (512), passing yards (489), and touchdown passes (6),[10] the Ducks finished with their worst season in 25 years, going 4–8 and failing to make a bowl game for the first time in over a decade.[11]
After the fifth game of the season, Herbert became the starting quarterback. He showcased his talents by throwing for 1,936 yards including 19 touchdowns with just four interceptions in eight starts.[10][12] He led a come-from-behind upset when playing the ranked No. 11 Utah Utes. The team scored four touchdowns in the final 15:27 of the game to overcome a 14–3 deficit. On the final drive, Herbert completed 6-of-9 passes for 63 yards, including a 17-yard game-winning touchdown pass with two seconds left.[13]
The Ducks entered the 2017 season with new head coach Willie Taggart.[14] Leading the Ducks to a 4–1 start, Herbert's transition from the Chip Kelly/Mark Helfrich-era's "Blur Offense" to Taggart's "Gulf Coast Offense" was successful, before he fractured his collarbone against the California Golden Bears on September 30, 2017.[15]
Without Herbert in the lineup, the Ducks dropped four of their next five games, and the offense went from averaging 49.2 points per game to just 15.0 points per game.[16] Herbert returned to help the Ducks win their last two regular season games to become bowl eligible.[17] The Ducks were selected to play the Boise State Broncos in the Las Vegas Bowl but their performance fell flat and the Ducks lost 38–28 after Taggart left the team to become the head coach at Florida State a week before their bowl game.[18][19]
In eight starts, Herbert had a 6–2 record and threw for 1,983 yards on 139-of-206 passing attempts (67.5%), including 15 touchdowns against only five interceptions. He also rushed the ball 44 times for 183 yards and five touchdowns.[20] Herbert was named first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American with a 4.08 grade-point average in biology.[21]
2018 season
Herbert entered his third collegiate season as an early Heisman Trophy candidate despite being coached by a third different head coach. He also learned a third different offensive scheme with new head coach Mario Cristobal, transitioning from the spread offense to the pistol offense.[22][23] Herbert led the Ducks to a 9–4 record and a victory in the Redbox Bowl. He finished the year with 3,151 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns, and two rushing touchdowns.[24] His 31 total touchdowns were good for second in the Pac-12 Conference behind Gardner Minshew of the Washington State Cougars.[25] He was named to the Pac-12 All-Academic first-team.[26]
Despite projecting as a high draft pick,[27] Herbert announced that he would return to Oregon for his senior season.[28] He led the Ducks to a 12–2 record, including a win in the Rose Bowl where he ran for three touchdowns and was named Offensive MVP.[29][30] In his best statistical collegiate season, Herbert totaled 3,471 passing yards, 32 passing touchdowns, and four rushing touchdowns.[31] In addition to his on-field success, Herbert was named the 30th recipient of the William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes excellence in academics, athletics, and leadership, and is also referred to as the "Academic Heisman". He graduated from Oregon with a bachelor's degree in general science.[32][33]
Herbert was selected sixth overall by the Los Angeles Chargers in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.[47][48] He was the third quarterback taken, behind Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa.[49] On July 25, 2020, Herbert signed his four-year rookie contract, worth a fully guaranteed $26.6 million.[50] Herbert's jersey was listed as the 12th best selling jersey to start the season.[51] Herbert was named the backup quarterback behind starter Tyrod Taylor ahead of Week 1.[52]
On September 20, 2020, Herbert made his first NFL start in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs, replacing Taylor, who was ruled inactive after the team's doctor accidentally punctured his lung.[53] He finished with 311 passing yards, one touchdown, one interception, and one rushing score as the Chargers lost 23–20 in overtime.[54] He became only the third player in NFL history to pass for at least 300 yards and rush for a touchdown in his first career game.[55] During Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Herbert completed 20 passes out of 25 attempts for 290 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception as the Chargers lost 38–31.[56] On October 8, 2020, Herbert was named the starting quarterback for the Chargers over Taylor going forward.[57][58]
In Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football, Herbert threw for 264 yards and four touchdowns during the 30–27 overtime loss.[59] He became the first rookie in NFL history to throw for four touchdown passes on Monday Night Football.[60] Herbert was named Offensive Rookie of the Month after throwing 10 touchdowns to one interception in three starts with 901 passing yards and a 122.2 passer rating.[61] He also became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history with multiple touchdowns in seven consecutive games.[62]
Herbert was named the Offensive Rookie of the Month for his performance in November.[63]
On December 27, 2020, Herbert threw his 28th passing touchdown of the season against the Denver Broncos, breaking the NFL record for most passing touchdowns by a rookie (previously held by Baker Mayfield) during the 19–16 win.[64] During the game, he also reached 4,000 yards passing for the season, becoming only the fourth rookie quarterback to achieve the feat.[65] He was named Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America.[66] Herbert finished the 2020 season on a four-game winning streak with 4,336 yards passing, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.[67] He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team.[68] He was ranked 56th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2021.[69]
Herbert helped lead the Chargers to a 4–1 start, including a Week 3 30–24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.[70] In Week 5, against the Cleveland Browns, Herbert had his best statistical game of the season. He had 398 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown in a 47–42 shootout victory.[71] In Week 9, Herbert had three total touchdowns while completing 32-of-38 passes for 356 yards, two touchdowns, a rushing touchdown, and no interceptions in a 27–24 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, earning American Football Conference (AFC) Offensive Player of the Week honors.[72] Against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Week 11, Herbert had 382 passing yards, three touchdowns, and an interception in a 41–37 win.[73]
In a Week 13 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Herbert had 317 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and an interception in a 41–22 victory, earning him his second AFC Offensive Player of the Week berth of the season.[74] He followed that performance with 275 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and no interceptions in Week 14 against the New York Giants, lifting the Chargers to a 37–21 victory, and an 8–5 record. He earned his second consecutive, and third overall, AFC Offensive Player of the Week honor for his performance.[75]
In Week 15, playing against the Chiefs, Herbert surpassed Andrew Luck's record for the most passing yards in an NFL quarterback's first two seasons.[76] Additionally, he surpassed Dan Marino's record for the most total touchdowns in an NFL quarterback's first two seasons.[77] In a Week 18 win or tie or go home situation against the Las Vegas Raiders, Herbert threw for 383 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception in the 35–32 overtime loss, eliminating the Chargers from the playoffs.[78]
In the 2021 season, Herbert set franchise records with 5,014 passing yards, 38 passing touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.[79] In addition, he had 63 carries for 302 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, leading the Chargers to a 9–8 record and his first career Pro Bowl.[80][81] Herbert became the first quarterback in franchise history to throw for at least 5,000 yards in a single season.[82] He was ranked 40th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022.[83]
In Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Herbert threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns in the 24–19 win.[84] In Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Herbert threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns for the second consecutive game. In the fourth quarter, Herbert suffered a fracture to his rib cartilage.[85] Despite a late touchdown, the Chargers would go on to lose 27–24.[86] In Week 6 against the Denver Broncos, Herbert completed 37 of 57 passes for 238 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception in the 19–16 victory. His 57 passes were the most in a winning effort without a passing touchdown in NFL history.[87] Overall, Herbert passed for 4,739 yards, 25 touchdowns, and ten interceptions in 17 games in the 2022 season.[88] He set single-season franchise records for pass attempts and completions.[89] The Chargers finished with a 10–7 record and earned a playoff berth.[90] In his first playoff game, Herbert passed for 273 yards and a touchdown as the Chargers fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars 31–30 in the Wild Card Round.[91] The Chargers surrendered a 27–0 lead for the third-largest blown lead in NFL playoff history.[92] He was ranked 32nd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.[93]
On April 28, 2023, the Chargers picked up the fifth-year option on Herbert's contract.[94] On July 25, he signed a five-year extension worth $262.5 million, which extends through the 2029 season. At the time of the signing, the deal made Herbert the highest-paid player in NFL history (surpassing the previous record set by Lamar Jackson just months earlier) and the highest-paid NFL quarterback based on average annual value at $52.5 million per season.[95][96] However, this record deal would be surpassed by Joe Burrow's extension just two months later.[97]
After starting the season 0–2, Herbert had a fourth-quarter comeback against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3, resulting in a 28–24 win. This game also marked his first 400-yard passing performance in the NFL. In Week 14 against the Denver Broncos, Herbert suffered a broken index finger on his throwing hand in the second quarter and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.[98] On December 12, the Chargers announced Herbert would undergo surgery and was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.[99] He was ranked 75 by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2024.[100]
Herbert entered his fifth NFL season with his third different head coach, as Brandon Staley was replaced by Jim Harbaugh.[101] Herbert began the season with a 90-plus passer rating in his first ten games, the longest streak of starts with a 90-plus passer rating by any quarterback to begin a season since 2018.[102] In Week 9 against the Tennessee Titans, Herbert passed David Carr for the most completions by a quarterback in their first five seasons.[103] From Weeks 2 to 14, Herbert recorded 357 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, the fifth-longest such streak in NFL history.[104] In a Week 17 victory against the New England Patriots, Herbert passed for 281 yards and three touchdowns to become the third player in NFL history with at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of his first five seasons. The win also clinched a playoff berth for the Chargers, marking their second appearance in three seasons.[105] He finished the regular season with 346 yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers in a 34–20 win over the Raiders.[106]
Herbert had an efficient year in his first season under Jim Harbaugh, finishing with 3,870 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and just three interceptions, along with career highs in rushing yards.[107] Herbert's 23:3 TD–INT ratio (7.67) ranks eighth all-time in NFL history among quarterbacks with at least 15 touchdown passes in a season. His numbers on play-action passes were among the best in the league, completing 74.7 percent for 1,617 yards with eight touchdowns and just two interceptions on such throws.[108] Despite a productive regular season, Herbert had the worst game of his career in the Wild Card Round against the Houston Texans, posting a career-low 43.8% completion percentage, one touchdown, and a career-high four interceptions for a career-low passer rating of 40.9 as the Chargers lost 32–12.[109]
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