Los Angeles Chargers Quarterback Justin Herbert gets a new nickname from Jim Harbaugh

Former Oregon Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert and his Los Angeles Chargers are riding high with a 6-3 start to the 2024 season. First-year Charger coach Jim Harbaugh might just be Justin Herbert’s biggest fan.

Harbaugh was on the mic for Sunday’s win over the Titans and loved every second of Herbert’s performance.

There was no one in the world more excited to see Herbert and the Chargers dominate than Harbaugh. Listen along. Vibes are immaculate.

Jim Harbaugh: “(Justin Herbert), Part Man, Part Beast”

Herbert’s new “animal” nickname has a nice ring to it.

Harbaugh and Herbert are changing the culture of the Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers have been a franchise mired in mediocrity for much of its existence since they were founded in 1959. The Chargers have a .497 winning percentage, which ranks 17th out of the 32 NFL teams. They have been known for “Charging”, which simply means finding impossible ways to lose games. They are one of 12 franchises in the NFL that do not have a super bowl victory.

When Justin Herbert was selected 6th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Chargers, fans hoped he would be able to be the one to take them to the promised land. Herbert has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL since entering the league, but it hasn’t resulted in many wins.

In his first four seasons under center, the Chargers were only able to muster one playoff appearance in 2022. That playoff run promptly ended in the wild card round when the Chargers blew a 27-point lead to the Jacksonville Jaguars. 2023 was a complete disaster as they went 5-12, finished last in the AFC West and fired coach Brandon Staley. Enter Jim Harbaugh.

Jim Harbaugh changed the culture the day he walked in the door. Hardness, grit, faith and wins. All Harbaugh has done as a coach is create a culture, get the most out of his players and win football games. He has done it at every stop. Whether it was with the Stanford Cardinal, the San Francisco 49ers or the Michigan Wolverines.

Harbaugh took a lowly Stanford program to heights it hadn’t seen since Bill Walsh coached in the 90s. He turned the 6-10 49ers to 13-3 and had them in three straight NFC Championship games. His last stop at Michigan ended with a national championship. Harbaugh had unfinished business in the NFL and won a super bowl so he returned. He teamed up with the promising young quarterback, Herbert, and they hit it off.

Coming into the season, the Chargers roster didn’t look good on paper. Even now, there aren’t a whole lot of players that stand out besides Herbert and a few others on the defensive side of the ball. So how are they positioned to make the playoffs a year removed from being a disastrous 5-12? That would be coaching.

Together, Harbaugh and Hebert have changed the outlook for Chargers football for now and into the future. Sure, it may only be year one of the Harbaugh/Herbert era, but you’d be a fool not to think this team can’t make the playoffs come January.