When the Los Angeles Chargers hired Jim Harbaugh, it wasn’t just to win games—it was to build a legacy. At the center of that mission is quarterback Justin Herbert, a player with elite talent, a cannon arm, and all the physical tools to be a future Hall of Famer. Harbaugh knows what that kind of player looks like. He’s coached one into stardom before. Now, he’s setting the stage to do it again, this time in the bright lights of Los Angeles. From day one, Harbaugh made it clear: he believes Herbert has what it takes to be one of the greatest to ever play the position. But talent alone doesn’t get you to Canton. It takes vision, structure, and leadership—three things Harbaugh brings in abundance. And as the 2025 NFL season draws closer, his plan to elevate Herbert’s career from great to legendary is already in motion.
The first piece of Harbaugh’s vision involves reimagining the Chargers’ offensive identity. In recent years, despite Herbert’s individual brilliance, the team often lacked consistency, especially in key moments. Harbaugh is determined to change that. Drawing from his time at Stanford, in the NFL with the 49ers, and most recently Michigan, his system emphasizes a punishing run game, surgical passing, and impeccable game management. It’s the same approach that turned Colin Kaepernick into a Super Bowl quarterback and revived Michigan into a national title winner. Now, it’s tailored for Herbert. Harbaugh understands that for Herbert to become a Hall of Famer, his numbers need to be elite—but so does his win-loss record. No quarterback gets to Canton on stats alone. Super Bowl appearances, deep playoff runs, and clutch victories are essential. That means putting Herbert in a system that highlights his strengths while minimizing exposure to unnecessary risk. It means surrounding him with smart football minds, and most importantly, giving him the tools to lead.
To that end, Harbaugh and the Chargers front office have worked quickly to overhaul Herbert’s support system. The offensive line is being rebuilt with an emphasis on toughness and pass protection. A new-look receiving corps, more versatile and explosive than years past, is taking shape. But the biggest difference is on the sidelines. Harbaugh has assembled a coaching staff with deep NFL experience and a shared vision: unlock Herbert’s full potential. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who helped develop Lamar Jackson and engineered the Ravens’ dominant run-first attack, is tasked with balancing the offense to reduce pressure on Herbert’s arm while maximizing his impact. Meanwhile, Harbaugh himself, a former NFL quarterback, provides daily mentorship—something Herbert hasn’t had to this degree before.
Off the field, Harbaugh is instilling a culture built around accountability, confidence, and championship-level preparation. At Michigan, he took a program mired in mediocrity and turned it into a national powerhouse. He did that by demanding excellence, not just on Saturdays but every day of the week. Players were expected to know the playbook inside and out, to treat practice like game day, and to perform in the classroom and community. Now he brings that same intensity to the Chargers’ locker room. Herbert, known for his calm demeanor and humility, is stepping into a new role under Harbaugh’s guidance. No longer just the franchise QB—he’s becoming the tone-setter for the entire organization. Harbaugh is pushing him to lead vocally, to demand more from teammates, and to be the relentless competitor every Hall of Famer must be.
Harbaugh also knows that part of Herbert’s journey to greatness will be defined by moments—signature plays, comebacks, playoff thrillers, and eventually, hoisting a Lombardi Trophy. That’s why every detail, every drill, every install in practice is being treated as preparation for those moments. Whether it’s situational football, two-minute drills, or fourth-and-short scenarios, Herbert is being trained to thrive when the lights shine brightest. Harbaugh believes it’s not enough to be good when it’s easy. True greatness comes from performing when everything is on the line.
And while Herbert already has Pro Bowls and jaw-dropping highlights on his résumé, Harbaugh is focused on cleaning up the finer points of his game. Pocket presence, pre-snap recognition, and decision-making under pressure are daily points of emphasis. Harbaugh has long preached the value of “knowing the answers to the test before the snap,” and under his watch, Herbert is becoming a master of defensive identification and anticipation. With Herbert’s arm talent, he can make every throw on the field. Harbaugh’s goal is to ensure every throw is made with purpose, precision, and poise.
In the film room, Herbert is seeing the game differently now. Harbaugh and Roman are challenging him to anticipate not just what the defense is doing, but why they’re doing it. It’s not just about reacting—it’s about dictating. This mental edge is what separates great quarterbacks from legends. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees—they won as much with their minds as with their arms. Harbaugh wants Herbert in that echelon. That means building habits that hold up under playoff pressure and lead to sustained excellence over a decade or more.
Behind the scenes, Harbaugh is also working to protect Herbert from the distractions and pitfalls that derail so many promising careers. The media hype, the endorsement deals, the constant scrutiny—all part of the job for a franchise quarterback. Harbaugh, who has experienced the NFL spotlight from every angle, offers guidance on how to manage it. He encourages Herbert to stay grounded, stay focused, and to let his play do the talking. That humility, paired with an inner fire, is what Harbaugh believes will carry Herbert through the ups and downs of an NFL career and keep his eyes fixed on the long-term prize.
Critics might argue that Herbert hasn’t won enough to be mentioned among the greats, but Harbaugh sees it differently. He sees a 26-year-old quarterback with years of experience, elite tools, and the perfect mindset for growth. He sees a franchise ready to rise under new leadership. And most importantly, he sees a path that leads directly to Canton—if everyone commits to the process.
That process is well underway. Training camp has become a proving ground, where Herbert is taking command of a locker room that finally feels aligned from top to bottom. For the first time in his career, there is complete synergy between the quarterback, head coach, front office, and staff. Harbaugh’s presence has brought clarity, urgency, and a sense of destiny to a franchise that’s often been stuck in neutral.
And it’s not just about winning in the regular season. Harbaugh’s blueprint is built around postseason success. He knows that Super Bowls define legacies, and he’s made it his mission to get Herbert there. Whether that happens this year, next year, or somewhere down the line, the pieces are being put in place now. Every practice, every rep, every meeting is a brick in the foundation of something bigger.
By the time Herbert reaches his prime, the goal isn’t just to be a top-five quarterback—it’s to be a legend. A player fans talk about for generations. A player whose bust resides in Canton. A player who represents not just a team, but an era of excellence. Harbaugh has done it before. And now, with the full weight of the Chargers franchise behind him, he’s determined to do it again.
If he succeeds, Justin Herbert won’t just be remembered as the most talented quarterback of his generation—he’ll be remembered as one of the greatest to ever play the game. And Jim Harbaugh, the man with the blueprint, will be the coach who got him there.
