NFL Coach: Justin Herbert 'Will Respond to' Harbaugh Challenging 'Competitive Level'

As Justin Herbert prepares to play under his fourth head coach, the hope is that this one can help him and the Los Angeles Chargers find more success in the win column.

The Chargers signal-caller was rated in a tie for fifth with Matthew Stafford in The Athletic's annual quarterback ratings. When making the ranking, a defensive coach noted that new head coach Jim Harbaugh's presence could make Herbert "elevate."

"Harbaugh will challenge the competitive level, and Herbert will respond to that," another defensive coach said, per Mike Sando of The Athletic. "The culture is what is going to help Herbert elevate. Then we will be able to see some things in moments where, OK, can this guy really do that? Because I've played him before when he did not do it in those situations, and we were not that good."

Herbert is entering his fifth season in the NFL and has been named to one Pro Bowl. He was having a strong 2023, throwing for 3,134 yards with 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 13 games. He would suffer a season-ending injury in Week 14.

However, the Chargers were just 5-8 when he was on the field and would finish the season 5-12. Herbert has only led the Chargers to the postseason one time and that ended in a Wild Card loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Harbaugh has not coached in the NFL since the 2014 season, but his tenure with the San Francisco 49ers was very successful. He led the franchise to a 44-19-1 overall record and one Super Bowl appearance in 2012. He would then become the head coach at Michigan and led the team to three College Football Playoff appearances and a national championship in 2023.

He found significant success with Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick with the 49ers and future NFL players like Andrew Luck and J.J. McCarthy at the collegiate level. Herbert is one of the most talented signal-callers he has worked with, so fireworks could come for the team in 2024 and beyond.

The Chargers open the 2024 season on Sept. 8 against the Las Vegas Raiders.