Chargers News: Jim Harbaugh Hails Justin Herbert As "Crown Jewel"

A peak into what compelled him to return to the Bolts?

New Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh is always good for a solid pull quote.

During his first presser for LA on Thursday afternoon, the former Bolts quarterback revealed how he feels about his new club's most important player, fifth-year signal caller Justin Herbert.

Jim Harbaugh on some of the leaders in the @chargers locker room: pic.twitter.com/hcqgF0YynR

— NFL (@NFL) February 1, 2024

"Justin Herbert, you see on the video... He's a crown jewel in the National Football League," Harbaugh said. "Justin Herbert walks up on you, you know," and here Harbaugh pantomimed looking up at Herbert's 6'6" frame, "'Okay, all right, this is awesome.'"

Across his four pro seasons, all with Los Angeles, Herbert has passed for 17,223 yards and 114 touchdowns (against 42 interceptions). He was named to his lone Pro Bowl (thus far) in 2021.

Last year in just 13 games (he fractured his right index finger and missed the end of LA's season), he passed for 3,134 yards and 20 touchdowns (against seven interceptions), while registering a 64.1 quarterback rating.

Following a monumentally successful run with his alma matter the University of Michigan Wolverines (which culminated in his team capturing the College Football Playoffs championship this past season), Harbaugh brings the winningest active record in the NFL with him this season, a sparkling 44-19-1 tally he logged during his first stint in the league with the San Francisco 49ers.