Justin Herbert enters the 2026 NFL season with a legitimate shot at his second 5,000-yard passing season (Instagram)
But 2026 is shaping up to be something different. With Mike McDaniel calling plays as offensive coordinator and a deeper receiving corps around him, analysts are already predicting Herbert could cross 5,000 passing yards for only the second time in his career. Herbert did it once, back in 2021, when he threw for 5,014 yards and 38 touchdowns. And yet, Los Angeles finished 9-8 and missed the playoffs entirely. That tension is exactly what makes 2026 so fascinating. Keegan Abdoo of NFL.com’s Next Gen Stats put it plainly in his bold prediction for the season: “Herbert joins Drew Brees (five), Tom Brady (two) and Patrick Mahomes (two) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for over 5,000 yards in multiple seasons.
Justin Herbert has had good seasons. If that happens, he joins Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Patrick Mahomes as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to do it more than once. That’s not a conversation anyone was expecting to have about the Chargers this soon. It was one of the best statistical seasons any Chargers quarterback has ever had. The numbers were there. The wins weren’t. Herbert’s elite arm strength recalibrates the precise timing of Mike McDaniel’s play designs, elevating the offense to an even more explosive attack than McDaniel ever had in Miami. Running back Omarion Hampton enters his second NFL season with real expectations on his shoulders. After flashing potential as a rookie, Hampton is projected for a breakout year. If he delivers, it actually reduces pressure on Herbert to carry the offense alone. Fewer empty possessions, more manageable third downs, and a defense that doesn’t spend extra time on the field.