You know, a guy’s built differently when his head coach jokes he could line up as a tight end or edge rusher—and actually mean it. That’s Justin Herbert. When the Chargers did their conditioning test last year, Herbert apparently “smashed it.” Jim Harbaugh literally said, “He could play tight end here, edge rusher there.” Yeah, QB1 just casually out-conditioned the guys who are actually built for hitting.

And it’s not just hype. Herbert’s 6’6″, 236 pounds, and ran a 4.68 at the combine. That’s faster than some linebackers. Add a 35.5-inch vertical and a 10’3″ broad jump—Herbert’s not just tall, he moves. Analysts have called him “the full package,” and it shows. He doesn’t just throw missiles—he can move the chains with his legs and shake off defenders like they’re backpacks.

But that’s enough of his physical traits. Because when it comes to his beast-like physique and competitiveness, everyone’s like—all hail Justin Herbert. But when it comes to his intelligence? Crickets. Total silence. No one wants to talk about it. But brainpower is one thing that makes him one of the best quarterbacks in the league. And the Chargers’ general manager, Joe Horitz, knows it pretty well.

In fact, the GM kind of hates the fact that Herbert’s got everything—like physical traits and brainpower. “I wasn’t part of the pre-draft process for Justin,” Hortiz said on the Pat McAfee Show when McAfee addressed the fact that no one really talks about Herbert’s brain. “Being around him for a year now, plus he’s brilliant. So intelligent, I mean… listen, if you know as a guy, when I look at Justin, I’ll be honest with you. I hate Justin because you know, he’s got everything beautiful.”

“He’s got pinpoint accuracy, he’s athletic, it can be he never looks out of breath, you know, throw the ball through the wall. He’s smart. Like you know, I hate him. It’s just the whole not all men are created equal, you know, all men are created equal. I say on the inside. Not on the outside. He’s a man. He’s gifted and so brilliant and such a great dude.” Imaging a quarterback who has elite physical attributes who also exhibits exceptional mental acuity on the field.

To be more precise, Justin Herbert’s part quarterback, part chess grandmaster. Veteran Chase Daniel once noted that Herbert is, “probably one of the smartest young guys I’ve been around … and not only football knowledge, but how to be a good teammate, how to be a franchise quarterback.” Why?

Well, for starters, the Chargers‘ quarterback coach, Shane Day, talked about Herbert’s progression in the red zone and his ability to deliver precise throws. Long story short: the guy checks all his options one by one and makes sure he hits the right target, no matter how tight the defense is. It’s like he’s got a built-in map of where everyone should be, and he nails those throws under pressure.

So yeah, Justin Herbert is a perfect mix of muscle and smart. Meanwhile, the general manager also addressed the Chargers’ culture after the arrival of head coach Jim Harbaugh to LA.

Jim Harbaugh is a catalyst for the Chargers’ culture

Three decades ago, the Chargers made their sole appearance in the Super Bowl when Joe Montana’s 49ers crushed their dreams (49-26) to lift the Lombardi. Many believed the Chargers were on the right track, and expected them to win a Super Bowl in the coming years. But, the team disappointed and changed nine head coaches from 1995 to 2024.

2024 was the year when Jim Harbaugh returned to the NFL. But this time, not as the quarterback of the Chargers, but as the head coach of his former NFL team. But let’s be real—even before Harbaugh joined the franchise, there were some glimpses of change in the team. Like, the Los Angeles team got Justin Herbert back in the 2020 NFL draft, Keenan Allen was having a good run on the receiving corp, and Khalil Mack was literally leading the charge on the defense.

Fast forward to Jim Harbaugh’s era, and the players confirmed a shift in the team’s culture. And that’s why folks, the Chargers’ GM, Joe Hortiz believes that Harbaugh worked as a catalyst in the team. “I mean, I think, just one on the culture,” the GM said on the Pat McAfee Show, “you know, I think Coach (Harbaugh) talked about it, you know, at the end of the year, and he talked about it during the year to the players, you know, he took the culture that already existed. You know, the culture was here, you know, and he’s like a catalyst for it. Like he’s the match to the fuel, the flame, you know, that’s what Coach is.”

Coach Harbaugh along with Justin Herbert wrapped up his first season in LA with 11-6 record, and a trip to the postseason. Unfortunately, the Chargers lost the wild card round, but one thing’s sure: Harbaugh and Herbert are surely looking to bounce back stronger in the next season.