Jim Harbaugh Bluntly Rejects Justin Herbert Criticism After Chargers' Playoff Loss

Harbaugh is all in with his quarterback.
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh talks to quarterback Herbert after a victory over the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh talks to quarterback Herbert after a victory over the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. / Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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Jim Harbaugh looks out for his quarterback. After the Los Angeles Chargers' season ended in disappointing fashion which saw Justin Herbert picked off four times, his coach thinks the criticism is unwarranted.

Herbert has yet to win a playoff game in only two tries over his five-year career, which Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz mentioned wasn't a concern and that it was "absurd" to hang a narrative around Herbert's neck after two playoff appearances.

Although the Chargers' season ended in the wild-card round to the Houston Texans, Harbaugh feels good about his team and Herbert in particular.

"Completely unfair," Harbaugh said in a press conference on criticism surrounding Herbert via NFL.com. "I wouldn't spend two more seconds thinking about what happened in that game. It didn't go good, and that's on me, that's my responsibility, that's my accountability. I really felt going into that tournament that we were as good as the best teams in the playoffs. Not just as good as any team, but as good as the best teams in the playoffs."

Harbaugh continued to take the blame and sing Herbert's praises, excited for their partnership to come in future seasons.

"There's nobody in this entire organization who gives more blood, sweat and tears and contributes more, produces more for the entire organization than Justin Herbert," Harbaugh said.

Herbert threw for 3,870 yards, 23 touchdowns and only three interceptions over the regular season. Unfortunately, the picks came when the Chargers' least needed it, ending their 11-6 season and Harbaugh's hopes prematurely.


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Blake Silverman
BLAKE SILVERMAN

Blake Silverman is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation's Detroit Bad Boys and A10Talk. He graduated from Michigan State University before receiving a master's in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure University. Outside of work, he's probably binging the latest Netflix documentary, at a yoga studio or enjoying everything Detroit sports. A lifelong Michigander, he lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, young son and their personal petting zoo of two cats and a dog.