A glimpse inside the anonymous public life of Justin Herbert
On the field, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is a bona fide star — but on the city sidewalks in Los Angeles, he’s just like any other 23-year-old.
Herbert, the NFL’s reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, told The Post that he’s rarely recognized by fans while out and about.
“I don’t think people care too much,” Herbert said about his star power.
The Oregon product and Team Milk athlete moved to the City of Angels when the Chargers selected him sixth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Chargers play in the second-largest market in the country, play in new SoFi Stadium, but the franchise is only in their fifth year in LA after 47 NFL seasons in San Diego. It is not unusual for opposing fan bases to fill the stadium when they play the 5-3 AFC West-leading Chargers.
“I’m kind of able to do my own thing. California is big and there are plenty of people that don’t know what is going on in the football world,” Herbert said.
For those familiar with that world of football, though, it is clear Herbert will be one of the biggest stars in the sport for years to come.
This season, Herbert is completing 64% of his passes for 2,350 yards with 18 touchdowns compared to six interceptions. His field vision and ability to connect with receivers on deep throws has only improved in his second pro year.
It is coming off a first season in which Herbert broke a number of NFL rookie passing records, including passing touchdowns (31) and completions (396).
Off the field, Herbert is a homebody of sorts. He lives a quiet, low-key life in California, where the weather is kind to his signature, long locks.
“I’m still working on it,” he said about his hairdo, running his hand through his hair, pushed back by a headband.
Herbert’s longer locks are back after he shocked fans with a shorter hairstyle last November. At the time, Herbert needed a change because “it was getting too long.”
So, in his typical low-maintenance fashion, he let LA’s strength and conditioning coach, John Lott cut his hair. And, the quarterback was happy with the results.
Herbert is naturally shy. He rarely uses social media, unlike some NFL players who document their workouts and other intimate moments across digital platforms. He doesn’t have a Twitter account, though Herbert joined Instagram in January 2020 — but uses it mostly for work purposes. His 48 posts include football photos, brand partnerships and a few shots with brothers Patrick and Mitch.
“My older brother [Mitch] is a medical student at Columbia and my younger brother plays football at [the University of] Oregon,” Herbert said, noting his close relationship with the pair. The quarterback himself was a biology major at Oregon.
Herbert’s younger brother Patrick, a 6-foot-5 tight end, is a redshirt freshman for the Ducks. The four-star prospect out of Sheldon High School followed in the family’s footsteps by attending hometown Oregon, where their grandfather Rich Schwab played receiver in the 1960s.
“I grew up competing with those guys and they’re the ones that have made me into who I am today,” Justin said about his brothers. “I know that I am a better person, teammate, football player, because of those guys.”
Herbert went on to credit his “supportive” mother and father for his relaxed nature and down-to-earth attitude.
“I think it’s the kind of way my parents raised me. I think it tells a lot about a person whether they put the shopping cart back to where it belongs, or they just leave it in the parking lot, and that’s just kind of how my dad raised me,” Herbert said of his upbringing in Eugene, Oregon.
“Hopefully [my dad] is pretty proud. I talk to him all the time and he comes to the games, so he’s definitely been a big influence on me. I’m thankful for all the lessons he’s taught me.”
Herbert isn’t too keen on the trendy food scene in Los Angeles. He’s simple and modestly frugal when it comes to things like haircuts and groceries — which he won’t purchase from Whole Foods because the supermarket chain is too expensive, he told ESPN.
Herbert signed a four-year $27 million deal with the Chargers in the summer of 2020. He has already been through one coaching change with Brandon Staley replacing Anthony Lynn after the team went 7-9 in Herbert’s rookie year.
Herbert has been lauded for his team-first mentally, meticulous habits and a willingness to lead by example.
“We need to continue to take care of the little things,” said Herbert, who noted that milk has always been an important part of his diet. “The little things are being early to meetings and lifts, stretching and warming up — doing all these things consistently, the walk-throughs that we do, practicing plays before practice, and all the timing routes we get with receivers. I think all those things add up to be the big things.”
The Chargers snapped a two-game losing streak Sunday with a 27-24 win over the Eagles. And after struggling in back-to-back losses to the Patriots and Ravens, Herbert was brilliant.
He finished 32-for-38 passing for 356 yards and two touchdown passes, and added a third score on the ground that put the Chargers up in the fourth quarter. The victory put the Chargers at the top of the AFC West, and Herbert reached a few individual milestones of his own.
He became the fastest quarterback to 600 completions in NFL history — and the first QB to do it within the first 25 games of his career (in his 23rd game).
The Chargers are operating under a new offense orchestrated by Staley and offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.
“One of the greatest things about our locker room is that it’s filled with guys that are selfless, they care about the team more than themselves. So I know every time we go out to practice I know they’re going to give their best effort,” Herbert said. “And if you can do that for an entire season then you’ll be able to accomplish some special things. I think we’ve seen that so far, but I’m looking forward to putting that together for an entire year.”
Herbert and the Chargers play host to the Vikings this Sunday.
