Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that he and the team are frustrated by the lack of roughing the passer calls on Justin Herbert in recent weeks and have submitted plays to the NFL for clarification.
During a matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 30, 2024, Herbert faced relentless pressure, being sacked twice and pressured on 12 of his 27 dropbacks. The Chargers’ offensive line, missing starting tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, struggled to provide adequate protection. Post-game, Harbaugh highlighted the need for better protection, stating, “We’ve got to get Justin another half-second, second. We really do.”
Officials have not penalized an opponent for an illegal hit on Herbert this season. Steelers quarterback Justin Fields leads the league with six roughing the passer penalties called on opponents.
In Sunday’s 27-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns, Herbert had a rough start, getting sacked six times in just the first half. Coach Harbaugh praised his resilience, saying the way Herbert bounces back after those big hits fires up the whole team.
However, Harbaugh believes Herbert should be getting more protection calls. He recalled Herbert’s recent 38-yard run against the New Orleans Saints in Week 9, where Tyrann Mathieu landed a hit on him that seemed like a clear helmet-to-helmet collision. Harbaugh felt that play deserved a penalty, adding that keeping Herbert safe is crucial for the team.
Harbaugh didn’t hold back when talking about the Saints game and a few moments he found frustrating. He mentioned a fourth-quarter play where Saints defensive tackle Bryan Bresee seemed to yank on Justin Herbert’s face mask, yet no penalty flag was thrown. Harbaugh admitted he understood how the refs might miss a call like that because of the angle, but he still found it hard to accept.
“Justin never reacts, not even a flinch, no matter what happens,” Harbaugh noted. “He just steps up and gets ready for the next play like it didn’t even happen.”
Harbaugh also highlighted another moment from their recent win over the Browns. Herbert was hit hard just after throwing a 10-yard pass to Ladd McConkey in the second quarter, a hit that Harbaugh felt should have been flagged for the defender’s body weight landing on Herbert. “Usually, they call that—landing on a quarterback like that. It’s almost like watching Shaq in basketball,” he said with frustration.
This Browns game marked the sixth in a row where Herbert was sacked multiple times, with the six sacks being the most he’s taken in a single game. So far this season, Herbert has been brought down 21 times, which puts him among the most-sacked quarterbacks in the league. Harbaugh didn’t hide his worry. “I probably think about his safety more than anything else,” he admitted. “It’s constantly on my mind—protecting him, keeping him safe.”
Harbaugh also acknowledged that Herbert isn’t one to argue about missed calls, which he respects deeply. “A lesser man would complain,” Harbaugh said, “but that’s not Justin. So, I do it for him. I shout at the refs when I think they missed something, even if they might not hear me.”
After the Browns game, Herbert took some accountability for the sacks, saying he could make quicker decisions and be more aware of the pressure. “We knew their rush was strong, so it’s on me to get the ball out and know where our protections are struggling,” Herbert shared. “I’ll review it and keep pushing forward.”