Most around the NFL view Los Angeles Chargers star Justin Herbert as an elite-level quarterback who is comparable to any other player in the league on his best day. But despite this, some critics are calling his leadership skills into question.
On paper, the questions about Herbert are fair when you consider the lack of team success that the former Pro Bowl quarterback has had thus far in his career with the Chargers. In games that Herbert has started throughout his four-year career in Los Angeles, the Chargers shockingly have just a 30-32 record.
Despite the lack of team success under Herbert, All-Pro offensive tackle Rashawn Slater is in full support of Herbert as the future of the Chargers organization moving forward.
During a guest appearance on the Up & Adams Show, Slater fully disagreed with the questions around his teammate’s leadership, calling Herbert a “very vocal leader”.
“It’s funny, everyone who calls Justin a quiet leader isn’t actually on the team, so they have no idea what his leadership is like,” Slater said on Thursday during an appearance on the Up & Adams Show. “Justin, he gets riled up. He talks s***. He’s vocal. He’s all those things. He’s a great leader. I also think people see more than they hear. Just the way he conducts his business, the way he goes about it, he’s always been a great leader.”
#Chargers All Pro OT Rashawn Slater on the false perception of Justin Herbert's leadership style 🗣️
"It's funny everyone that calls Justin a quiet leader isn't actually on the team… He gets riled up, he talks sh*t, he's vocal." @rdsl8r @heykayadams @OLMasterminds #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/iNFXeLtV7M
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) July 18, 2024
One factor in Herbert’s favor heading into the 2024-25 season is that he will have a proven head coach behind him now, as the Chargers decided to bring in Jim Harbaugh this offseason.
If Harbaugh and Herbert are able to work well together, there is a very good chance that Herbert could prove all of his critics wrong and turn around his success in Los Angeles this coming season.
