When the Chargers head to EverBank Stadium to face the Jaguars on Sunday, it becomes more than a matchup between two AFC teams chasing January football. Instead, it turns into a rare family showdown. There will be one Herbert preparing to fire passes while the other lines up ready to defend his new home. Yes, we are talking about Justin Herbert and Patrick Herbert.

Meanwhile, this meeting comes with an extra twist: for the first time since they were kids running around on elementary school blacktops, the Herbert brothers will line up on opposite sides. The younger Herbert even laughed while sharing a small memory.

“I don’t think we’ve ever played on opposite teams. Maybe in, like, fifth grade. Maybe like rec basketball. That probably would be more recently.”

It’s the kind of moment that gives this game a little more heart. But it won’t be easy for either Herbert brother. Right now, the Chargers sit at 7-3, while the Jaguars are 5-4. The AFC bracket is tight, and this game could significantly reshape the playoff landscape.

Interestingly, Patrick opened up earlier about what it feels like to share the league with Justin, even as their paths stay different.

“It’s awesome. I think we kinda take it for granted sometimes, looking at him and being like, ‘Oh, he’s been in the league for 5-6 years’ or whatever. I think it’s a big accomplishment. That’s so cool.”

But do you know the last time Justin Herbert and Patrick stepped on the same field, they wore the same uniform? So now it is the right time to dig deeper into who they are, how they grew up, and how football shaped everything.

Justin and Patrick come from a family built on sports

Justin did not become a quarterback out of nowhere. His dad, Mark Herbert, once lined up under center too. He played through high school and even made it to the University of Montana. Then an injury stopped everything before his sophomore year. That moment ended his dream, but it planted the seed for the next generation.

Meanwhile, their mom, Holly, brings another twist. Some stories say she played four years of basketball at Oregon and was part of the 1995 Final Four run. But other reports, like the one from People, claim she was not a college athlete and attended Washington State instead. That makes her story a mystery. Yet she still raised three athletes with a steady hand.

Then there is Mitchell, the oldest Herbert brother. He played wide receiver at Montana State and finished with 94 catches, 1,176 yards, and 15 touchdowns. After football, he went to medical school at Columbia University. Today he works as an orthopedic surgeon at UCLA.

Justin and Patrick Herbert’s football careers and college paths

Both brothers started their story in Eugene. Justin ran the Ducks’ offense as the starting quarterback. Patrick lined up as a young tight end. They shared a locker room for one year in 2019. Then everything changed. Justin entered the 2020 NFL Draft and left as the No. 6 pick by the Chargers.

Meanwhile, Patrick stayed. He spent six full seasons at Oregon and built a reputation as a strong blocker with steady hands.

Interestingly, Patrick went undrafted in 2025. Jacksonville still believed in him and gave him a free agent shot. He spent the year working on the practice squad.

Now the Jaguars list him as one of two tight ends on that unit, along with Jordan Akins. And he might suit up this week.