Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has made it clear that a primary focus of his tenure is to maximize Justin Herbert’s potential. While every coach aims for team success, Harbaugh has articulated a specific goal centered on setting Herbert up for a Hall of Fame career.
Harbaugh explained his vision on ‘The Rich Eisen Show,’ stating, “I woke up the other day and said, ‘I gotta get Justin to the Hall of Fame.'” He acknowledged that achieving this goal would necessitate team success, noting, “It’s just one of those things where you wake up at 3:30, 4:00 in the morning. That’s sometimes when your best ideas come. You kind of process that, and that would mean winning a couple of Super Bowls, and a lot of people would benefit from that, so that’s a worthy goal. I think it’s necessary that we get him surrounded with as many good football players to his level as possible.”
Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame Making Draft Class
The Chargers’ recent draft strategies reflect this commitment. In the 2025 NFL Draft, Los Angeles selected five offensive players out of nine total picks, including running back Omarion Hampton and wide receiver Tre Harris, both of whom are expected to contribute immediately to Herbert and the offense. This followed a similar approach in the 2024 NFL Draft, where the Chargers added Joe Alt and Ladd McConkey, who have quickly become key weapons for Herbert.
Harbaugh’s strong affinity for Herbert has been evident since his arrival in Los Angeles, and he has consistently expressed his belief in the 27-year-old quarterback, even describing Herbert as the “toughest quarterback in NFL history.”
As a former quarterback himself, Harbaugh has a proven track record of working effectively with talented signal-callers throughout his coaching career, including Andrew Luck, Colin Kaepernick, and J.J. McCarthy.
While Herbert had already established himself as a successful quarterback before Harbaugh’s arrival, his 2024 season under Harbaugh’s guidance was his most efficient. Under Harbaugh’s leadership, the Chargers achieved an 11-win season, their best record since 2018 when they went 12-4.
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