In a league where talent is abundant but postseason success is rare, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert’s inclusion on Ben Arthur’s list of NFL players with the most to prove in 2025 is both justified and timely. Herbert, now entering his sixth season with the Chargers, is no longer viewed as a rising star — he’s a quarterback expected to deliver.
“Herbert is as talented as any quarterback in football, but his play in the Chargers’ wild-card loss to the Texans in January — four interceptions, more than he had during the regular season (3) — was his latest debacle on the big stage,” Arthur writes. “In five seasons with Herbert, the Chargers are 0-2 in the playoffs. The first loss came against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2022 AFC wild card, when the Chargers were on the losing end of what was then the third-biggest comeback in NFL postseason history. Finding playoff success is paramount for Herbert to be considered among the NFL’s elite at his position.”
Los Angeles Chargers Need Justin Herbert To Prove It In Playoffs
Those facts underscore a hard truth: Herbert’s legacy can’t be written in passing yards or highlight throws alone. Until he leads his team deep into the playoffs — or at the very least avoids costly collapses — questions about his ability to win when it matters most will persist.
This isn’t about raw ability; few doubt Herbert’s ceiling. It’s about turning promise into production when the spotlight burns brightest. With a massive contract extension in place and a new regime in Los Angeles, 2025 may be the defining year of his career. If Herbert wants to shed the label of “talented but unproven,” the time for excuses is over. Arthur’s critique is a fair one — and one Herbert must answer loudly.
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Arthur’s piece, which ranks 10 players in descending order based on their pressure-filled outlooks, highlights mostly quarterbacks
- Brock Purdy – San Francisco 49ers
- C.J. Stroud – Houston Texans
- Justin Herbert
- George Pickens – Dallas Cowboys
- Milton Williams – New England Patriots
- Sam Darnold – Seattle Seahawks
- Caleb Williams – Chicago Bears
- Justin Fields – New York Jets
- J.J. McCarthy – Minnesota Vikings
- Anthony Richardson Sr. – Indianapolis Colts
Each of these players carries expectations, but Herbert stands out because of his rare blend of elite arm talent and frustrating playoff underachievement. If he’s going to join the true upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks, 2025 must be the season he flips the narrative.