Justin Herbert is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, but you don't have to tell that to LA Chargers fans. Even with a broken hand an offensive line in shambles, Herbert has led the Chargers to 11 wins in 15 games with a real shot at winning the AFC West.
Herbert's name has not been included in the elite quarterback conversation this near, nor has it been included in MVP talks. For much of the last two months, Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford have sparred for the most prestigious individual award in football. Herbert has lurked in the shadows.
The Chargers' signal-caller is starting to emerge from the shadows with some of the biggest names in the NFL space bringing attention to his MVP candidacy. Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden is the latest to hop on the Herbert MVP trade, dropping a stone-cold truth that the Bolts already know all too well.
I think what Justin Herbert has been able to do this season should have him firmly in the MVP conversation!
— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) December 25, 2025
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Jon Gruden echoes Chargers fans with Justin Herbert MVP take
It might be too little too late for Herbert to rob the award from Maye or Stafford. After all, a key staple of winning the award is having the narrative behind you, and the narrative has already pushed Maye and Stafford to an unavoidable level.
But Gruden is right. Herbert should absolutely be in the conversation, especially if award voters take the name of the award literally. This isn't the "who had the best statistical season" award. It's not the "who happened to be the quarterback on the best team" award. It's the Most Valuable Player award.
It's hard to refute the value Herbert has brought to the Chargers this season. Almost any other quarterback in the league would have crumbled under the same circumstances. Would a second-year quarterback handle the woeful offensive line play Herbert has sustained? Probably not, especially considering how Maye looked in his rookie year behind a bad offensive line.
Heck, Stafford's case is even harder to make given his age. Stafford has battled injuries in recent years. There's no way he would hold up if he was taking the level of hits Herbert has taken this season. Let's also not forget the Sean McVay of it all.
Both quarterbacks have been very impressive this season, but it's not hard to poke holes in what they have done. The Patriots have had the easiest schedule in the entire league fueling their12-3 record. Ten of their 12 wins are against teams with a losing record. The two exceptions are the Buffalo Bills (who they split with) and the 8-7 Carolina Panthers (who very well may finish 8-9).
That easy schedule continues with the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets in the last two weeks. Yes, the Patriots will likely finish the season with 14 wins, but it's as soft as 14 wins can get.
The Rams have more impressive wins under their belt and Stafford has been exceptional. However, Stafford may be playing in the most favorable situation a quarterback can possibly have. He has the best offensive coach in the sport, one of the five-best wide receivers in Puka Nacua, and arguably the second-best wide receiver tandem when you include Davante Adams.
How many quarterbacks in the league could walk into Stafford's situation and produce similar results? Herbert definitely could. Herbert has won 11 games with a makeshift offensive line and a bad play-caller. It's hard to imagine him being any worse than Stafford if they traded places. The Bolts would certainly be worse.
And at the end of the day, this perceived gap between the three teams isn't even present. The Rams and Patriots have been viewed on a higher level than the Chargers despite the teams being close all season long. There is a real chance the Bolts win out to go 13-4 and win the AFC West.
At best, the Patriots will be just one game better than the Chargers while the Rams could only match 13 wins. It's not like Herbert is quarterbacking an eight-win team looking to maybe get to 10 wins. He's right there in the same boat as Maye and Stafford.
Will Herbert win the award? Probably not. Once the voters have made their mind up on a narrative they tend to stick to that narrative. But when you objectively look at who the most valuable player in the league is, it's hard to argue against Justin Herbert.