Chargers fans, the wait is officially over. You can all stop holding your breath, and the naysayers have no choice but to eat their words. Justin Herbert has officially been named to the NFL Top 100 by his peers, checking in at No. 39. While those who enjoy Herbert's downfall were writing him out of the Top 100 altogether, the real competitors he goes up against were singing his praises in the interviews released alongside his ranking.
Justin Herbert comes in at number 39 in the 2026 NFL Top 100
Chargers QB Justin Herbert jumps from #56 to 39 in the 2026 NFL Top 100
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) August 3, 2026
CB Patrick Surtain II: "It's scary man. He makes it look effortless."pic.twitter.com/wUTZzoQUiu
2025 was by no means Justin Herbert's best statistical season. The Chargers' signal caller threw for just 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns, and an at-times unlucky 13 interceptions. If anything was shown throughout the season, it was Herbert's toughness and his ability to contribute in the ground game under some of the worst circumstances in the league.
While the numbers weren't eye-popping, the players on the field clearly saw what Herbert was working with and appreciated everything he sacrificed. He put his body on the line week in and week out, playing through injuries and carrying a team that had no business winning 11 games to exactly that while competing for a division title with the eventual No. 1 seed Denver Broncos.
Herbert has seemingly cracked the top five quarterbacks in the NFL, at least in the eyes of his peers. With Drake Maye, Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, and Josh Allen still not announced, every other expected quarterback has already appeared on the list. That puts Herbert ahead of names like Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Caleb Williams, just to name a few.
While Herbert's critics will point to his lack of playoff success and some lackluster statistics by his standards, those who truly watched the games know the reality. Justin Herbert was absolutely deserving of this respect from his peers. Without him, the Chargers are probably picking in the top five of the draft. With him, they were competing for a playoff run despite injuries to star players piling up throughout the season.
Now that he's earned the respect of his peers, it's time for the results to follow. Training camp is underway, the pieces to the puzzle are in place, and Mike McDaniel is putting them together in what Chargers fans hope becomes a true work of art on offense.
Greg Roman couldn't hold Justin Herbert back enough for his peers to overlook his greatness. Now it's McDaniel's turn to take the talent he has at quarterback and let him play his game. He's got speed. He's got a running game. He's got his best friend, and an All-Pro, protecting the right side of the offensive line, while another All-Pro in Rashawn Slater looks healthy and ready to anchor the left side once again.
Herbert knows what the expectations are heading into 2026. He's got what he needs. Now it's time to step up.
Could we see the Chargers' franchise quarterback sitting atop the NFL Top 100 in 2027?
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