The Los Angeles Chargers and Justin Herbert agreed to a massive five-year, $262.5 million contract extension on Tuesday afternoon, according to multiple reports; the team confirmed the agreement but did not provide further details. Herbert becomes the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history with this agreement.
In his third season with the Chargers following their selection of him with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2020 draughts out of Oregon, Herbert threw for 4,739 yards and 25 touchdowns. This fall, Herbert was scheduled to begin the last year of his initial four-year, $26.5 million contract.
The most any player has ever thrown for in his first three NFL seasons is 14,089 yards, which Herbert has done in his first three seasons, according to league records. Only Hall of Famer Dan Marino had more touchdown passes in that time period (94), with him coming in second with 94. The only player in league history with at least 4,000 yards of passing in each of his first three seasons is Herbert.
Herbert is the most recent quarterback to sign a big contract extension this offseason. Jalen Hurts of Philadelphia and Lamar Jackson of Baltimore both reached agreements on five-year, $260 million contracts. Joe Burrow of Cincinnati will eventually receive a big extension. When Hurts’ deal was inked, it set a record; after that, Jackson’s deal shattered that record. When Burrow’s deal is finalised, it’s anticipated that it will fall within that range, if not completely reset the quarterback market.
With a 10-7 record in 2018, Herbert and the Chargers qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2018, however they were eliminated in the wild-card round. Kellen Moore, the new offensive coordinator for the Chargers, joined Los Angeles earlier this year after serving in the same capacity with the Dallas Cowboys. Herbert will have the opportunity to work with Moore.
On September 10, the Chargers play the Miami Dolphins in the season opener.