Justin Herbert is already thinking about the life that comes after football, and he says it starts with family.
On the Richer Lives podcast, the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback talked about what retirement could look like once his playing days are done. Herbert closed his eyes and described his “dream retirement.”
“My dream retirement would be to start a family, to have a family that I get to take care of, look after and love and enjoy all my hard work with football and what it's provided me,” he said. “There's gonna be a long life after football, and I think I'm really looking forward to one day being able to start a family.”
Herbert also said that a “richer” life means “freedom” - the chance to travel and explore the world. He said he didn’t get many of those opportunities growing up, but expects to keep chasing them once football is over.
The comments come while Herbert is still deep in the middle of his career. He’s entering his seventh year in the league after being drafted with the sixth pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
On the field, Herbert has given the Chargers plenty to build around. Los Angeles has reached the playoffs three times with him at quarterback, though each run has ended in a loss. His roughest postseason outing came against the Houston Texans in the 2024 season, when he threw four interceptions.
LA Chargers star Justin Herbert reveals that his dream retirement after finishing his NFL career is starting a family and traveling the world with his fiancé Madison Beer ❤️👀
— Slime🐍 (@ItsKingSlime) August 4, 2026
“To have a family that I get to take care of, look after & love, and enjoy all of my hard work with… pic.twitter.com/pn4kgb4hU4
Off the field, Herbert is preparing for a major new chapter with Madison Beer. Before the Chargers’ 2026 training camp began, the couple announced their engagement.
The news came about a year after they were first linked. Herbert was spotted on the set of one of Beer’s music videos in August 2025, though the two waited a bit before making their relationship public.
In Other News...
Chargers Return To San Diego Reopens Feelings Fans Never Resolved
For the second straight summer, the Chargers training camp stop at the University of San Diego brought the franchise back to the city where it spent decades building its identity, and the setting carried a weight that went well beyond practice snaps and installation work. Jim Harbaugh talked about the organizations connection to San Diego, while Justin Herbert acknowledged how meaningful it was to be back in a place so many fans still associate with the teams past.
The visit also came with a reminder of that history in a more personal way, as the Chargers honored former San Diego linebacker Billy Ray Smith, who recently died. Between the return to campus, the familiar faces in the stands and the memories attached to the old market, the two-day camp reopened feelings the fan base never really sorted out, even as the team keeps moving forward in Los Angeles. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Have A Rashawn Slater Concern They Can't Ignore
Rashawn Slaters day took an uneasy turn at Tuesdays practice when the Chargers left tackle headed to the medical tent after taking part in 11-on-11 work. He eventually came back out, but not in a way that settled anything for a team already leaning on him as a key piece up front.
Slater did not return to team drills and instead watched individual work from the sideline, leaving the Chargers with another situation to monitor closely. The exact nature of the issue has not been revealed, and the team is expected to keep tracking his status before offering an update. [Read more 🡒]
Jim Harbaugh Just Raised The Stakes In Chargers Left Guard Battle
Jim Harbaugh spent part of his latest update shining a light on a spot that has quietly become one of the Chargers more interesting training camp battles. Left guard is still up for grabs, and Harbaugh said Kayode Awosika has moved into the lead as the competition unfolds, a sign that the job is not being handed out lightly as Los Angeles sorts through its protection plan on the interior.
The timing matters because the Chargers are trying to settle roles before the season gets too far along, and Harbaugh made clear there is still a process to follow before anything is finalized. With the rest of the AFC West also dealing with its own roster business, from Denvers cap maneuvering to updates elsewhere in the division, this is one of those camp decisions that could end up carrying real weight once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]