$262.5m NFL quarterback labelled ‘overrated phenom’ as playoff failings threaten status
The Los Angeles Chargers have the pieces, yet, they fall at the most important hurdle.
In their 66-year franchise history, they have made the playoffs 17 times, but have never celebrated by lifting the Vince Lombardi Trophy
Los Angeles believed they had found their man, when they selected Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick in the 2020 draft.
Herbert dazzled in his rookie season, throwing for 4336 yards and 31 touchdowns earning him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
He signed a five-year, $262.5 million rookie extension with the Chargers in July 2023, keeping him with the team since 2029.
The extension made him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league, and he has not slowed down during the regular season, leading some to label him as an elite quarterback in the league.
Since then he has been paired with veteran head coach Jim Harbaugh, but there is one glaring omission from the CV and NFL analyst Bucky Brooks has not held back in his criticism,
THe NFL Network analyst, and a Super Bowl winner during his time with the Green Bay Packers, believes being labelled elite is premature, given his inability to translate his performance into the playoffs.
“Although Herbert has amassed an impressive array of stats (163:58 TD-to-INT ratio, 66.5 percent completion rate, 261.3 passing ypg, 96.3 passer rating) and accolades (Offensive Rookie of the Year, two Pro Bowl nods) in half a dozen NFL seasons, he has been unable to convert that into playoff success,” Brooks wrote.
“He’s 0-3 in the postseason with a 54.7 completion percentage and a 64.7 passer rating.
“Additionally, his TD-to-INT ratio is upside-down at 2:4, while he’s averaging just 224.7 passing yards per game.
“Those playoff numbers are baffling for a talented playmaker with the natural ability to terrorize opponents inside and outside the pocket.
“I know he’s suffered injuries and hasn’t always had the best support from the coaching staff and surrounding cast.
“Still, if Herbert’s truly elite, he needs to overcome those challenges to lift his team in a quarterback-driven league.”
With Herbert starting under center in the playoffs, the Chargers have not made it past the wildcard round of the postseason.
In 2022, the Jacksonville Jaguars rallied from 27 down to beat the Chargers 31-30 in a stunning comeback.
The Chargers were kicked out of the playoffs by the Houston Texans in 2024, and Herbert acknowledged that the disappointing defeat was on him.
He responded with a superb 2025 season, guiding the Chargers to an 11-6 record and second place in the AFC West.
But Los Angeles again fell flat in the postseason at the hands of the New England Patriots and Herbert acknowledged he must improve on the biggest stage.
The franchise has restructured the offense to match Harbaugh’s physical identity.
Herbert must quickly translate his generational physical traits into tangible playoff victories if he hopes to shed the “overrated” label and permanently secure his status among the NFL’s truly elite tier.
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