No player in the NFL has symbolized the split between film and analytics junkies in football media and the old guard of national talking heads over the past several years more than Justin Herbert.
The Los Angeles Chargers quarterback entered the league with hype around his huge arm, durable frame, and impressive mobility and immediately became a favorite of super-online fans and media. Herbert was continually talked up as one of the best QBs in the NFL despite never having postseason success or a superstar-caliber regular season. The debate around Herbert became hypothetical, more about how the Chargers were holding him back than his actual play on the field.
After the Chargers moved to 0-8 this weekend, keeping their unequivocal place as the NFL’s most disappointing team this season, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell is ready to put an end to the debate once and for all.
In a long eulogy on The Domonique Foxworth Show, Barnwell bid an emotional farewell to what he called “the Justin Herbert excuse machine.”
“Today, we lay the Justin Herbert excuse machine to rest. You’ve been operating for seven years now, since Justin Herbert’s very first start,” Barnwell said.
“Over the years, excuse machine, you’ve been run into the ground worse than a 1970s running back. You’ve powered through problems that would stop even the trustiest and hardiest of warriors: Brandon Staley, multiple bad running games, offensive lines stocked with players that even Mina (Kimes) has never heard of. You persevered even while your quarterback has broken most of his ribs and fingers.”
Barnwell added that even Herbert’s fiercest defenders among the nerds of NFL media can no longer keep the excuse machine running:
“There have been attempts to shut you down, only for the power of film bros and NFL writer group chats to keep you going. But today, Justin Herbert excuse machine, I know it’s time.”
On today’s show: @billbarnwell delivers a eulogy…
“Today, we lay to rest the Justin Herbert excuse machine…” https://t.co/plk1MRPJih
— The Domonique Foxworth Show (@FoxworthShow) November 9, 2026
Barnwell closed with a sense of admiration for the determination of those who powered the Herbert excuse machine — and offered a prediction of where they might turn their energy next.
“You’ve run strong for seven years, despite the fact that Justin Herbert has never won a playoff game or finished in the top eight in MVP voting,” he said.
“You’ve powered a million, ‘I think this is the year Justin Herbert goes nuclear’ preseason clips, and you’ve successfully saved each and every single one of my friends from ever having to re-evaluate our Justin Herbert priors … but it’s time for you to rest now, Justin Herbert excuse machine. You’ve served us well, and we will need you in two months, when Lamar Jackson is playing in the postseason.”
While Barnwell’s solemn delivery of the speech was impeccable, the Herbert conversation had become a major split in NFL media. It brought together debates around how much to blame a quarterback for a team’s performance and what kind of QBs are best in the modern NFL as well as sillier layers like the seeming curse laid upon the Chargers and Herbert’s mentality as a leader.
Perhaps Herbert may have a breakthrough someday, but Barnwell is ready to end the fighting. And for this season at least, it’s clear Herbert and the Chargers will be irrelevant.