The Red-Eyed Quarterback
As Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert took the field for the team’s first 2025 training camp practice, something was… different. Gone were the icy blue eyes fans have come to recognize. In their place? Deep, almost eerie red.
But no, this wasn’t a new Hollywood gimmick or Halloween come early — it was Herbert debuting a pair of red-tinted contact lenses designed to reduce sunlight glare and help with his sensitive eyes.
“They’re like sunglasses,” Herbert explained after practice. “They really helped. I didn’t have to squint nearly as much.”
The contacts are part of an effort to improve on-field vision without relying on a tinted helmet visor — which Herbert tried a few seasons ago but found frustrating due to how often it needed cleaning. The prescription lenses, Herbert said, might be a game-day staple in 2025 — pending league approval.
“We Looked Like Vampires”
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Chargers camp without a dose of levity from kicker Cameron Dicker, who revealed just how far the red-eyes bit has already gone.
In an interview on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Dicker said he and Herbert wore the red contacts to dinner one night.
“We looked like we were vampires,” Dicker said with a grin. “People didn’t recognize us at first. We were like, ‘This is incredible.’”
It’s the kind of moment that Chargers fans have quietly come to expect from Herbert — not because he’s a loud, in-your-face personality, but because he lets his charm show in subtle, often hilarious ways.
The Mystery of Justin Herbert
Outside of Southern California, Herbert can be something of an enigma. He’s not flashy. He doesn’t give dramatic quotes. And for a franchise quarterback in the NFL’s second-largest market, he keeps his personal life out of the spotlight.
But those around the team — and now thanks to Dicker, more fans — know that Herbert is not without personality. In fact, he’s a bit of a goof. Whether it’s spooking kids with vampire eyes at an ice cream shop or cracking dry jokes in the huddle, Herbert’s unshakable demeanor on Sundays masks a fun-loving, grounded guy off the field.
“When I stepped into the huddle, I think some of the guys were a little surprised,” Herbert said of wearing the lenses at practice. “But they were like, ‘Oh, we’re going to score.’”
Seeing the Field (and the End Zone) Clearly
Whether or not Herbert keeps the lenses long-term will depend on comfort, NFL regulations, and of course, performance. Based on early results, the optics are promising — literally and figuratively.
During Thursday’s training camp session, Herbert looked sharp, connecting repeatedly with receivers and showing little hesitation. One highlight came on a deep sideline strike to wide receiver Jalen Reagor, dropped perfectly over the outstretched arm of corner Cam Hart for a touchdown.
“If I’m able to see the field better because of [the lenses], it definitely helps,” Herbert said.
Just a Dude Who Happens to Be Great
The story isn’t just about optics or playmaking — it’s about why Chargers fans love Justin Herbert. He’s not trying to be a superstar brand. He’s not carefully curating a media image. He’s just himself — a little introverted, quietly funny, fiercely competitive, and fully bought into the Chargers.
In a league that often rewards the loudest voices, Herbert’s low-key authenticity is rare. And thanks to Dicker’s hilarious dinner story, fans now have an even better sense of who No. 10 really is.
Just a quarterback with vampire eyes, dialing up touchdowns and cracking jokes along the way.
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