The Chargers' 2024 season exceeded expectations, seeing Los Angeles speed past its projected win total in the team's first season under coach Jim Harbaugh.
It ended, though, in massive disappointment. Yes, the Chargers lost to the Houston Texans on Wild Card Weekend, but the fashion in which they fell -- headlined by a four-interception outing for Justin Herbert -- served as a disheartening sign to those ready to hop on board Los Angeles' bandwagon.
Chargers leadership won't be dismayed so easily.
"Completely unfair," Harbaugh said of criticism regarding his quarterback. "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.
"That day, we were not the better team that day. That's my responsibility. We did not play complementary football well enough. My responsibility. We weren't our best when our best was needed. Again, my responsibility. But Justin Herbert? I agree with (Barstool Sports') Big Cat, when he said … if you're selling Justin Herbert, then he's buying. Completely concur with that statement.
"We did him a disservice and didn't put him in the positions to be successful enough, but he played like a beast. … 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 has not been bashful about how much he respects, values and appreciates Herbert's contributions to the Chargers. He's gushed with praise regarding his quarterback, using that term -- "beast" -- on more than one occasion. One ugly game isn't going to dissuade Harbaugh from riding with his quarterback because if anybody understands the difficulties of playing the position in the ߣÏÈÉúAV, it's a former signal-caller like Harbaugh, who also suited up for the Chargers during his playing days.
General manager Joe Hortiz harbors similarly strong respect for Herbert.
"I hear the narrative and all that, but there's a lot of great quarterbacks in this league that may not have had the ideal start to their playoff career," Hortiz said. "Peyton Manning was 0-3 his first five years. Lamar Jackson's, it was 0-2. So if we're going to set a narrative on Justin off of two playoff games, that's absurd. What I watch this guy do, he's phenomenal, he's a phenomenal competitor, leader, playmaker. We'll roll with him. They're gonna roll me outta here before they roll him outta here, I can promise you that. He's special, and special things are ahead for him. Book it."
If the Chargers are going to build on the success they enjoyed in 2024, they'll need to retain key pieces. Herbert isn't going anywhere, but they'll need to convince veteran edge rusher Khalil Mack it's worth returning to Los Angeles in 2025. Both Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz told reporters Wednesday they want Mack back next season and will make every effort to keep him.
"I don't know if it's possible to get everybody back, but I wanna get as darn close as possible … and nobody more than Khalil Mack," Harbaugh said.
Los Angeles transformed its identity in its first year under Harbaugh, evolving into a tough, physical bunch that was stingy on defense and did enough to win in most games offensively. In order for the Chargers to take the next step in 2025, they'll need to prove Herbert's nightmarish outing was nothing more than a fluke.
