The Los Angeles Chargers are off to a nightmare start in the 2026 NFL season. Sunday’s 22-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs dropped them to 0-6, leaving their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.
With the team struggling to get going, quarterback Justin Herbert has also faced his share of criticism. But the conversation has gone beyond the field.
Sports columnist Ethan Strauss recently suggested that Herbert’s relationship with his fiancée, pop singer Madison Beer, could be affecting his performance. That theory hasn’t sat well with many fans and analysts, who have been quick to push back.
NFL Analyst and Fans Fire Back at Madison Beer Narrative
Strauss sparked the debate with an article, titled “The Justin Herbert Madison Beer Factor: Everyone’s Thinking It. Nobody’s Writing It.”
In his piece, Strauss discussed how the media has covered the Chargers’ disappointing season. While traditional reporters have largely focused on the team’s on-field struggles, some online commentators have questioned whether Herbert’s relationship with Beer has become a distraction.
The columnist referenced Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson’s discussion on “Nightcap,” where the duo added to the debate over whether Beer is contributing to Herbert’s struggles.
Former NFL running back Leonard Fournette has also weighed in. Speaking on his podcast, he suggested that Herbert’s relationship was affecting his performance, saying, “Love is holding [Herbert] back.”
Strauss acknowledged that blaming Beer for Herbert’s struggles might be an oversimplification, but argued that a high-profile relationship could still affect a quarterback.
“While it’s probably silly to believe that a quarterback’s focus might be derailed by the incandescent attractiveness of his significant other, it’s less silly to wonder if a high-profile relationship complicates his existence,” he wrote.
Strauss also questioned whether coach Jim Harbaugh is holding Herbert accountable, particularly after the quarterback missed voluntary workouts to visit Beer during her European tour.
However, not everyone agrees with Strauss’ argument, and NFL analyst Marcus Mosher was among those who pushed back. Rather than blaming Herbert’s relationship with Beer, Mosher pointed to the Chargers’ injury problems as a more plausible explanation for the quarterback’s struggles.
“All this time, I thought the Chargers losing four offensive linemen and their No. 1 wide receiver was the reason why Justin Herbert is struggling. I never thought about blaming his girlfriend. Shows how little I know about football,” Mosher wrote sarcastically.
As Mosher pointed out, injuries have taken a toll on the Chargers’ offensive line. Rashawn Slater, Joe Alt, Kayode Awosika, Trey Pipkins III and Trevor Penning have all dealt with injuries, leaving the team short on options up front.
Wide receiver Ladd McConkey was also evaluated for a concussion during Sunday’s loss to Kansas City, further compounding the Chargers’ offensive struggles.
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Several fans took to social media to defend Beer and call out Strauss’ take. One X user wrote, “It’s crazy that people still take this guy seriously. You would think that all his podcasts with Richard Hanania would’ve given people a clue.”
A second fan kept it brief: “People will write anything.”
A third questioned the logic behind blaming Herbert’s fiancée for the team’s struggles, writing, “Yeah, because her fiancé and his team playing like [expletive] is her fault?”
Others argued that the Chargers’ offensive line woes and coaching decisions were far more deserving of criticism.
“Has to be the stupidest take ever. We all see him have zero pockets and have untouched rushers every snap, while his wide receivers drop passes left and right. Mike McDaniel is washed as a play caller, and five rookie offensive linemen are a mismanagement of a roster. Go make a trade and get some vet OL,” one commenter wrote.
Another X user was equally unimpressed with the discussion, calling it “Very weird ‘journalism.’”
Justin Herbert Looks to Turn Things Around
Herbert’s performance this season has been abysmal, to say the least. Through six games, he has thrown five touchdown passes and eight interceptions while totaling 1,141 passing yards.
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The 28-year-old QB ranks dead last among the league’s quarterbacks at No. 34, with a PFN QB Impact Score of 61.0.
Herbert has yet to throw for more than 230 yards or record multiple touchdown passes in a game this season. The offensive line’s struggles haven’t helped, either, as he has been sacked 21 times in six games.
Herbert certainly needs to play better, but the Chargers’ injury woes and inconsistent offense have also played a major role in their disappointing start. Blaming Beer for the team’s struggles does little to address the issues holding the team back.
The Chargers will now get a bye week before facing the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.