There's more than enough reason to be optimistic about the Los Angeles Chargers' chances at being serious Super Bowl contenders in 2026.
After posting 11 wins with an absolutely decimated offensive line, the Chargers have re-shaped their interior and await the returns of Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. They've successfully reconstructed their pass rush with their addition of Akheem Mesidor, and they've added some offensive weapons in Keaton Mitchell, Brenen Thompson, Alec Ingold, and Charlie Kolar.
If incoming offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is able to bring everything together, this team could quickly enter the status of the NFL's elite.
And yet the man who it all centers around, Justin Herbert, remains underrated and under-appreciated around the league. In NFL SpinZone's recent quarterback rankings, Herbert doesn't even crack the top-10, getting beat out by the likes of Trevor Lawrence and Bo Nix.
After a pair of disappointing playoff defeats in the past two seasons, this stance is somewhat understandable. But it highlights the ultimatum that will center around Herbert all season— he must find playoff success with this roster.
The time is now for Justin Herbert to elevate the Chargers into Super Bowl contention
There are solid cases to be made for Lawrence's and Nix's presence on that list. But it can't go without stating that Herbert is undeniably one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
Across six seasons with the Chargers, he's amassed 24,280 passing yards and 163 touchdowns to just 58 interceptions. He has the physical tools to extend plays when needed, but he also has the fundamental passing abilities to stay in the pocket and string together impressive drives. The one thing he hasn't found, to this point, is playoff success.
The Chargers have scored a combined 15 points in their last two Wild Card Round appearances. Not all of that is on Herbert. Los Angeles' offensive scheme was sub-par under Greg Roman, and he often failed to find innovative answers to the problems that plagued the Chargers during his tenure.
But, now, the component parts are in place. Barring another series of catastrophic injuries, Herbert should have the protection he needs and the offensive weapons at his disposal to truly do some damage on the biggest stage. Even though a quarterback like Lawrence hasn't found playoff success either, that's certainly the separating factor between Herbert and players like Nix, Dak Prescott, and Jared Goff.
Is Herbert concerned with his league-wide perception? Probably not. His simple goal is just to win.
But if he's finally able to get over that hurdle with the roster the Chargers have in place for 2026, there will be no arguments to be made about his standing as an elite quarterback.
That's the ultimatum Herbert must face this season.
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