Justin Herbert Enters 2026 With a New Play-Caller, a Rebuilt Offensive Line and MVP-Level Expectations
Justin Herbert is entering his seventh NFL season with more support around him than at almost any point in his career, and it shows in how analysts are talking about the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback heading into 2026. Between a new offensive coordinator, a healthier offensive line and a personal milestone off the field, it’s been a loaded offseason for the 28-year-old.
The biggest on-field change is the arrival of Mike McDaniel, who Los Angeles hired as offensive coordinator after his run as head coach of the Miami Dolphins ended in January. McDaniel has quickly built a rapport with Herbert at training camp, and the early returns have coaches and analysts alike buzzing about the fit.
Why McDaniel Changes the Equation for Herbert
Last season was a grind for Herbert even as he helped the Chargers reach 11 wins and another playoff berth. He was sacked 54 times, the second-highest total in the NFL, and faced a league-high 263 quarterback pressures, according to CBS Sports. He played through a fractured left hand for the final month of the season. Herbert finished 2025 with 3,727 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, while also setting career highs on the ground with 83 rushing attempts for 498 yards.
Much of that punishment traced back to a battered offensive line. Left tackle Rashawn Slater tore his patellar tendon in training camp and missed the entire season, while right tackle Joe Alt missed 11 games with an ankle injury, per CBS Sports. This year, both are expected back healthy, and the Chargers further reinforced the group by signing Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz in free agency.
FOX Sports 1’s Danny Parkins framed the McDaniel hire and the o-line upgrades as a package deal that sets Herbert up for his best season yet.
“McDaniel is going to unlock the simplicity, the ease for Justin Herbert. He’s not going to have to do everything. He’s got a play-caller, a left tackle, and a right tackle all in one offseason. He’s going to be great,” Parkins said, per First Things First’s post on X — https://x.com/FTFonFS1/status/2086913107809407450. Parkins called Herbert, a two-time Pro Bowler, an “MVP talent.”
Reworking Herbert’s Mechanics From the Ground Up
The chemistry between quarterback and coordinator isn’t just about scheme. McDaniel has spent the offseason retooling Herbert’s footwork in the shotgun, aiming to get the ball out of his hands faster. Herbert has adopted a new stance with his left foot forward on shotgun snaps, a change he began working on months before training camp opened, according to the Chargers’ own training camp preview.
Herbert leaned into the adjustment early, spending time throwing to his brother Patrick, a tight end on the Jacksonville Jaguars roster, to get comfortable with the new mechanics before camp opened. McDaniel has taken notice.
“He’s really progressing as fast as one could even picture, much faster than I was planning for,” McDaniel told reporters, according to the Chargers’ training camp report. McDaniel even praised an interception Herbert threw in a recent practice, calling it “a great rep” and explaining he wants his quarterback taking calculated risks now, before the games count.
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has echoed the optimism about the pairing, calling it a “great fit” and describing Herbert as “meticulous” and “really smart,” while praising McDaniel’s energy and vision, according to ClutchPoints.
New Faces Around Him
Beyond the retooled offensive line, the Chargers added pieces at other spots to round out McDaniel’s offense, including tight end Charlie Kolar and fullback Alec Ingold. Herbert has also spoken openly about his growing rapport with new center Biadasz and his excitement to work with Kolar in the passing game, per the team’s own training camp video coverage.
| Category | 2025 Stat |
|---|---|
| Passing Yards | 3,727 |
| Passing Touchdowns | 26 |
| Interceptions | 13 |
| Rushing Attempts | 83 (career high) |
| Rushing Yards | 498 (career high) |
| Times Sacked | 54 (2nd-most in NFL) |
A Big Offseason Off the Field, Too
Herbert’s 2026 has been eventful away from the facility as well. On July 28, he got engaged to singer Madison Beer, with the couple announcing the news in a joint Instagram post captioned “meet my fiancé,” according to ESPN. The two had been dating for roughly a year, after first being spotted together in August 2025. No wedding date has been announced.
With a new coordinator, a rebuilt line and personal life settled, Herbert heads into the preseason with about as much stability as he’s had since entering the league. Whether that translates into the MVP-caliber season some are already predicting will start to become clear once the Chargers open their regular season.
