Justin Herbert Bio
Justin Patrick Herbert (born March 10, 1998) is an American professional football quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks, where he won the 2019 Pac-12 Championship and the Rose Bowl, and was selected by the Chargers as the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. Herbert became the Chargers’ starting quarterback in the second game of his rookie season and quickly set several rookie statistical records, earning national recognition. He has since become one of the league’s most productive passers and signed a record-setting contract extension in 2023.
Early Life and Background
Justin Patrick Herbert was born in Eugene, Oregon, on March 10, 1998. He grew up in the Eugene area and attended Sheldon High School, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. During the third football game of his junior season, he suffered a broken leg, which complicated his college recruitment. As a senior, Herbert passed for 3,130 yards and 37 touchdowns and rushed for 543 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning first-team All-State honors and the Southwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year award.
Herbert came from an athletic and academic family. His maternal grandfather, Rich Schwab, played receiver at the University of Oregon in the 1960s, while his paternal grandfather, Roger Herbert, was a biology teacher at Sheldon High School who fueled Herbert’s interest in science. His father, Mark Herbert, played football and ran track at the University of Montana. Herbert also co-founded the Sheldon High School Fishing Club and served as its president.
Path to American Football
Herbert received early scholarship offers from Northern Arizona, Portland State, and Montana State before Nevada and Oregon extended NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision offers. He committed to the University of Oregon in October 2015 and quickly emerged as a top college prospect. Entering his true freshman season listed as QB2 on the depth chart behind Dakota Prukop, Herbert became the first true freshman at Oregon to start at quarterback since Chris Miller in 1983 when the Ducks faced the Washington Huskies on October 8, 2016.
During that debut, he set or equaled Oregon single-game records for total offensive yards, passing yards, and touchdown passes. After the fifth game of the season, Herbert became the starting quarterback and led the Ducks with 1,936 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and just four interceptions in eight starts. His dramatic game-winning touchdown pass against the No. 11 Utah Utes cemented his reputation as a clutch performer and signaled his arrival on the national stage.
Justin Herbert Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
As a sophomore in 2017, Herbert transitioned to a new offensive system under head coach Willie Taggart, leading the Ducks to a 4–1 start before fracturing his collarbone against the California Golden Bears on September 30, 2017. He returned to help Oregon win its last two regular-season games to become bowl eligible, finishing the year with a 6–2 record in eight starts. He was named a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American with a 4.08 grade-point average in biology.
In 2018, Herbert entered his junior season as an early Heisman Trophy candidate under new head coach Mario Cristobal. He led the Ducks to a 9–4 record and a victory in the Redbox Bowl, finishing with 3,151 passing yards and 29 passing touchdowns. In 2019, he returned for his senior season and led Oregon to a 12–2 record, including a Rose Bowl win in which he ran for three touchdowns and was named Offensive MVP. He also won the William V. Campbell Trophy, often called the “Academic Heisman,” and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in general science.
NFL Rookie Breakthrough (2020–2021)
Herbert was selected sixth overall by the Los Angeles Chargers in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft and signed a four-year rookie contract worth a fully guaranteed $26.6 million. He made his first NFL start in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs, passing for 311 yards and a rushing touchdown, becoming only the third player in NFL history to pass for at least 300 yards and rush for a touchdown in his first career game. On October 8, 2020, Herbert was named the Chargers’ starting quarterback over Tyrod Taylor.
During his rookie season, Herbert set several NFL records, including most passing touchdowns by a rookie with 28, and was named Offensive Rookie of the Month twice. He finished the year with 4,336 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, earning AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and a place on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. In 2021, he set franchise records with 5,014 passing yards and 38 passing touchdowns, becoming the first quarterback in Chargers history to throw for over 5,000 yards and earning his first Pro Bowl selection.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2022–Present)
In 2022, Herbert passed for 4,739 yards and 25 touchdowns while leading the Chargers to a 10–7 record and a playoff berth. He suffered a fractured rib cartilage in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs but continued to play through the injury. In his first playoff game, he passed for 273 yards and a touchdown as the Chargers fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars 31–30 in the Wild Card Round. On July 25, 2023, Herbert signed a five-year contract extension worth $262.5 million, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time of the deal.
His 2023 season ended in Week 14 after he underwent surgery for a broken index finger on his throwing hand. In 2024, Herbert played under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, finishing with 3,870 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. He became the third player in NFL history with at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of his first five seasons. In 2025, he was named to his second career Pro Bowl after leading the Chargers to 11 wins despite playing behind a struggling offensive line.
Driving Style and Strengths
Justin Herbert combines a strong arm with unusual mobility for a quarterback listed at 6 ft 6 in and 236 lb. He excels in play-action situations and has consistently delivered high completion percentages and strong passer ratings throughout his career. His efficiency and poise under pressure have made him a dependable leader for the Chargers.
Notable Events and Milestones
Herbert’s most memorable moments include his 2019 Rose Bowl performance with three rushing touchdowns, his record-setting 28-touchdown rookie season, and his historic 5,000-yard campaign in 2021. He also earned a record-breaking contract in 2023 and added a second Pro Bowl selection in 2025, reinforcing his status among the league’s elite quarterbacks.
Justin Herbert Career Wins
Justin Herbert has accumulated numerous regular-season wins across his first six NFL seasons, highlighted by his 2020 four-game winning streak and his 2024 run to a playoff berth. He has also posted signature victories over rivals such as the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers, with several of his teams finishing above .500.
NFL Highlights
Herbert’s rookie season included a Week 5 Monday Night Football game against the New Orleans Saints, in which he became the first rookie in NFL history to throw four touchdown passes on Monday Night Football. In 2021, he surpassed Andrew Luck’s record for the most passing yards in an NFL quarterback’s first two seasons and surpassed Dan Marino’s record for the most total touchdowns in a quarterback’s first two seasons. He led the Chargers to a 47–42 shootout win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 5 of 2021, passing for 398 yards and four touchdowns.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the NFL, Herbert’s college career featured a Pac-12 Championship in 2019 and a dominant Rose Bowl victory, where he ran for three touchdowns and was named Offensive MVP. He also earned the William V. Campbell Trophy for excellence in academics, athletics, and leadership, capping a decorated pre-professional career at the University of Oregon.
Justin Herbert Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Herbert’s family has deep roots in athletics and education. His father, Mark Herbert, played football and ran track at the University of Montana, while his older brother, Mitchell, played wide receiver at Montana State University. His younger brother, Patrick Herbert, plays tight end for the Jacksonville Jaguars. His maternal grandfather, Rich Schwab, played receiver at the University of Oregon in the 1960s, and his paternal grandfather, Roger Herbert, was a biology teacher at Sheldon High School who helped spark his interest in science.
Personal Life
As of 2025, Justin Herbert is dating singer and songwriter Madison Beer. Off the field, he developed an interest in chess after losing to teammate Rashawn Slater during a 2024 road trip, eventually appearing in a 2025 video with chess content creator Anna Cramling to discuss his journey to improve his game. He is also a longtime San Diego Chargers fan who grew up admiring the franchise he now represents.
2025 Season Performance
Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers opened the 2025 NFL season with a 27–21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in São Paulo, Brazil, as Herbert completed 25 of 34 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns. He continued to climb the NFL record books, surpassing Peyton Manning for the most completions by a quarterback in their first six seasons during a Week 8 game against the Minnesota Vikings. On December 1, he underwent surgery to repair a fracture in his left hand suffered in Week 14 against the Philadelphia Eagles, briefly pausing his campaign.
Despite playing behind one of the league’s weakest offensive lines, Herbert led the Chargers to 11 wins and ran for a career-high 498 yards while adding a second career Pro Bowl selection on December 23. His efficiency and toughness remained defining traits of his season. In the playoff opener, the Chargers lost 16–3 to the New England Patriots, with Herbert completing 19 of 31 passes for 159 yards and no touchdowns in a difficult performance.
